h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I think that the definition of a planet should be changed to include objects with gravitationally dominated shapes, even if they are smaller than pluto. It is rbitrary to set a size limit at pluto,it should be something more meaningfull, such as being large enough to be crushed into a sphere (OK, oblate spheroid)
THis qould make Ceres, Quaoar, and maybe other KBO's like Ixion and Varuna Planets.

Nope. I say demote Pluto. After all, it is in the wrong place and it is smaller than many moons.

Yeah, but Mercury is smaller than some moons, and no-one thinks of demoting it.

I say--the definition of planet is arbitrary anyway. Therefor, I will pick the definition that gives the closest number to 20.

Why not 42?

Well, I weant as high a number as possible while still remembering the names, and I don't think I can remember the names and characteristics of 42 objects.

But this would discriminate against people with poor memories. It might be safer to label only Jupiter a planet, and label the rest 'Assorted Junk.'

I can imagine an extra-terrestrial being looking at this and saying, "These Earthlings are so moronic that they can't agree on the number of planets they have in their solar system!"

Inverted Solipsist ,I agree with your 20-planet limit of memory. I can just about remember the first 20 elements, and that's with a song.

one reason we write things down or put them in H2g2 articles is so we won't have to remember them, just remember where to find the info.

LATE BREAKING NEWS~ the same team that found Quaoar has found another object (2004 DW) in an orbit similar to Pluto. Size unkonown (estimated between the size of Quaoar and Pluto). The discoverers are trying hard not to offend anyone in authority so they are delaying the official naming.

I really think that to say that Quaoar will never be a planet is a major assumption. What with the discovery of Sedna, who knows what will happen?

Just in they have discovered a planet larger than Pluto
labeled 2003 UB313

So let me test my memory here - the planets are
Mercury, Venus, Earth,Mars, Jupitar, Saturn,Uranus, Neptune, Pluto,
Xena, Quaoar, Sedna, Kirk and Picard. Is that right?

And Rupert. Which is really called Persephone.

2003UB313 - I thought the money was on Proserpine

And 2003EL61 aka Santa which has a moon called Rudolph.

I think they said there was already an asteroid somewhere named Proserpine, so the name can't be used. But Rupert/Prosephone is an H2G2 reference, so I doubt she was serious.

Should probably explain that my post about Rupert/Prosephone a few hours ago was a friend who apparently didn't bother to sign out of my name before posting. Which is why I refered to her in the third person.

all these newbies are now being relegated to the group "Dwarf Planet"
as of August 2006