Is Gravity About To Get Plutoed?

[AV1611VET]

I don't see the problem with Pluto's "demotion".

Of course not ... the ends justifies the means, doesn't it?

 

[FrenchyBearpaw]

Of course not ... the ends justifies the means, doesn't it?

It certainly does, according to your MO here at CF.

 

[AV1611VET]

That has to be the dumbest description of what happened I have heard by far.

The "calibrating equipment" part doesn't apply to Pluto, I was talking about science in general.

 

[Subduction Zone]

The "calibrating equipment" part doesn't apply to Pluto, I was talking about science in general.

Name a case when equipment was falsely calibrated?

You do realize that second to making a new discovery scientists love to prove other scientists wrong, don't you? If a scientist lied it would quickly become apparent since science by its nature is repeatable.

 

[Tomk80]

The "calibrating equipment" part doesn't apply to Pluto, I was talking about science in general.

Yes, that was what makes it so extremely dumb.

 

[seeking Christ]

Apparently Pluto had been incorrectly calibrated all along?

 

[florida2]

Eris can take a hike. If you guys can jettison it, so can we.

Jettison it? No, scientists reached a decision on what constituted a planet. If you were to include Pluto you'd have to include Eris as it's bigger than Pluto. Very simple AV.

There are many other objects which are similar in size which you would have to call planets if you want to include Pluto.

Also, if the number of 'divine completeness' is 9, do all other star systems have nine planets? (which we can clearly define as planets?) Why doesn't everything else come in nines?

 

[Elendur]

He touched on the reason earlier in the thread. Apparently the number 9 is the number of divine completeness, so having what used to be the 9th planet of the solar system, Pluto, demoted is, as he says, "a sore spot" for him. At least, that's what I've managed to glean from his outraged postings on the subject. He seems to have taken the demotion as a personal insult.

Ok, I'll see if I get an explicit explanation from him.

 

[Elendur]

QV please: 'Plutoed' chosen as '06 Word of the Year - Technology & science - Space | NBC News

Doesn't seem like mockery to me.

Anyways, I'll continue asking until I get an answer:
Why are you putting so much affection into a definition?

 

[Eight Foot Manchild]

I would love to hear a definition of 'planet' that would apply to Pluto but not Eris.

 

[TLK Valentine]

Of course not ... the ends justifies the means, doesn't it?

And what end would that be, AV? What do scientists, or anyone else for that matter, have to gain from Pluto's demotion?

Come on, AV -- you've hinted at some sort of sinister conspiracy -- what would be the motive?

 

[seeking Christ]

What do scientists, or anyone else for that matter, have to gain from Pluto's demotion?

They get to collect their secret paychecks from the Rothchilds.

 

[TLK Valentine]

As much as you'd like to think, this isn't about me; it's about how scientists will do what they have to do to get the results they're looking for ... from calibrating equipment, to rigging votes.

And, in your fanciful but insignificant opinion, why do you think they wanted this particular result?

Lying is a sin, AV -- so either provide something to substantiate your accusations r seek forgiveness from your God*

*assuming, of course, your God considers false witness to be a sin.

 

[AV1611VET]

Name a case when equipment was falsely calibrated?

You do realize that second to making a new discovery scientists love to prove other scientists wrong, don't you? If a scientist lied it would quickly become apparent since science by its nature is repeatable.

I didn't say scientists lie, I just said they calibrate their own equipment.

 

[TLK Valentine]

I didn't say scientists lie, I just said they calibrate their own equipment.

And what's the motive to deliberately miscalibrate it?

What do they gain from producing false and easily exposed results?

 

[AV1611VET]

Jettison it?

Yes, jettison it.

No, scientists reached a decision on what constituted a planet.

Behind closed doors, in the absence of many planetary astronomers ... as Post #9 shows.

If you were to include Pluto you'd have to include Eris as it's bigger than Pluto. Very simple AV.

I'm familiar with the logic; and as Laurele points out, those who discover new elements or new moons do routinely.

There are many other objects which are similar in size which you would have to call planets if you want to include Pluto.

Then do it; why demote Pluto?

Also, if the number of 'divine completeness' is 9, do all other star systems have nine planets? (which we can clearly define as planets?) Why doesn't everything else come in nines?

I don't want to discuss why I personally don't like the demotion of Pluto, this thread isn't about me; it's about how scientists [mis]handled the Pluto issue.

 

[AV1611VET]

I would love to hear a definition of 'planet' that would apply to Pluto but not Eris.

And yet again, Posts #5 and #9 should be sufficient to answer all your questions.

All I'm doing is repeating myself; but for the record, here's the last paragraph from Post #5:

If we use the alternate, broader term that a planet is any non-self-luminous spheroidal body orbiting a star--which many planetary scientists prefer over the IAU definition--we can then use subcategories to distinguish the types of planets. While we previously recognized two subcategories, the terrestrials and the gas giants or jovians, the new discoveries show us there is a third class-the dwarf planets. These are planets because they are large enough to be rounded by their own gravity--a state known as hydrostatic equilibrium--but of the dwarf subcategory because they are not large enough to gravitationally dominate their orbits. In fact, Dr. Alan Stern, who first coined the term "dwarf planet," never intended for dwarf planets to not be considered planets at all. If this one area is amended so the IAU resolution establishes dwarf planets as a subclass of planets, much of the controversy would evaporate.

Does that answer your question?

 

[JustMeSee]

The Pluto issue is a sore spot with me.

It would help if you recognized the reasons behind redefining the word "planet".

 

[AV1611VET]

And what end would that be, AV? What do scientists, or anyone else for that matter, have to gain from Pluto's demotion?

Come on, AV -- you've hinted at some sort of sinister conspiracy -- what would be the motive?

Good question ... you find out and let me know, will you?

 

[AV1611VET]

And, in your fanciful but insignificant opinion, why do you think they wanted this particular result?

Lying is a sin, AV -- so either provide something to substantiate your accusations r seek forgiveness from your God*

*assuming, of course, your God considers false witness to be a sin.

Did I say they lied?