Challenge Thread: Was Pluto our Ninth Planet in the Fourth Century?

[durangodawood]

Was Pluto our ninth planet in the fourth century?

Should read "was Pluto thought of as our ninth planet in the fourth century?"

Your question doesnt make sense as phrased.

 

[AV1611VET]

Should read "was Pluto thought of as our ninth planet in the fourth century?"

Even I don't think that.

Unless, as I said, it was identified prior to that.

But I'm not sure it was.

 

[Bungle_Bear]

Was Pluto our ninth planet in the fourth century?

(Kudos to Bungle Bear for giving me the idea for this challenge.)

Who is "we" in this instance?

In 4th century the sun and moon were considered planets, Earth was not. The known planets were sun, Mercury, Venus, moon, Mars, Saturn & Jupiter.

 

[Vince53]

"If we use an earlier definition Pluto would be planet 11, since the sun and moon were considered planets by many of the early Greeks." Now THAT is an intelligent statement.

Scientific words became more precise as science advanced. For instance, labelling clams and oysters as "Fish" was not a mistake--but as knowledge increased, the definition of "fish" became more precise, and the meaning of the word changed.

It was not a mistake to label meteors as falling stars, and planets as wandering stars. A "star" was defined as anything in the sky except the sun (which actually is a star) and the moon. But the definition of star changed as knowledge increased.

 

[VirOptimus]

 

[jacks]

I'd say yes. Whether we knew about it or not isn't relevant. Of course I always answer the question of "If a tree falls in the woods and nobody hears it, does it make a sound?" As "Yes it does". I don't believe our knowledge or lack of knowledge has a bearing on reality.

 

[Hans Blaster]

Good question, Warden.

The number NINE, in Bible significance, signifies "completeness."

If Pluto was meant to be an "Easter egg," awaiting discovery at the right time, then there could be a reason for completing the order of our solar system in 1930 on a planetary basis.

(If you know what I mean.)

Oh great, numerology. Since we're talking about planets, care to throw in some astrology too?

 

[dlamberth]

Was Pluto our ninth planet in the fourth century?

(Kudos to Bungle Bear for giving me the idea for this challenge.)

The celestial body that we call Pluto was an unknown object out in the Kuiper belt in the 4th century. Though unknown to Human kind, it's been circling the sun for billions of years.

 

[pgp_protector]

What definition of planet are you using?

 

[AV1611VET]

Oh great, numerology.

Negative.

Numerology is Satan's cheap imitation for the Bible's numerical significances.

 

[AV1611VET]

What definition of planet are you using?

The same definition we used when he had that "old time religion."

 

[Hans Blaster]

Negative.

Numerology is Satan's cheap imitation for the Bible's numerical significances.

Impugning power or value* to numbers *is* numerology. All of those "12" and "7" and "40" values are just ancient Hebrew numerology. (So is the "number of the beast".)

*Pun not completely intended, but I struggled to find a good alternative word in place of value that is not a value.

 

[Hans Blaster]

What definition of planet are you using?

Things that were called planets when he was a boy.

 

[dlamberth]

The same definition we used when he had that "old time religion."

Old time religion? You must mean the Greeks and Roman's who thousands of years ago named 5 planets after their Gods.

 

[AV1611VET]

Impugning power or value* to numbers *is* numerology.

9² = 81 numerology?

 

[Warden_of_the_Storm]

I don't get how this is a challenge.

 

[AV1611VET]

Old time religion?

Affirmative.

 

[Ponderous Curmudgeon]

9² = 81 numerology?

depends on whether you are playing your game of mocking.

 

[Bungle_Bear]

I don't get how this is a challenge.

AV is challenged.

 

[AV1611VET]

depends on whether you are playing your game of mocking.

You started it.