Science changes its mind...

[LightHorseman]

For the past 80 years, Pluto has been considered a planet. However, a new decision by the International Astronomical Union has reclassified the term "Planet" to mean anything that orbits a star, is not a star itself, and is massive enough to turn itself into a spheroidal shape.

This means we now have 12 planets, as Ceres, Charon, and UB 401, commonly refered to as "Xena", are qualified as planets.

I submit this example to those who seem to think that scientific theories are inflexible and static, arguments I continue to encounter about evolution.

 

[Mallon]

On the other hand, I often hear creationists complain that the self-correcting nature of science is its downfall. Because it is constantly being revised and updated, it is worthless in the face of the never-changing Bible (e.g., you will often hear, "Science texts are always going through revisions, but MY Bible never changes."). While I do believe the Bible to be the most important book we have, I certainly appreciate the self-regulating quality of science, too! It's the most objective system we have.

 

[theFijian]

Neither God's revelation through nature nor God's revelation through scripture change, however our understanding of both are constantly changing. To say otherwise is at best a misunderstanding, and at worst, a lie.

 

[B®ent]

For the past 80 years, Pluto has been considered a planet. However, a new decision by the International Astronomical Union has reclassified the term "Planet" to mean anything that orbits a star, is not a star itself, and is massive enough to turn itself into a spheroidal shape.

This means we now have 12 planets, as Ceres, Charon, and UB 401, commonly refered to as "Xena", are qualified as planets.

I submit this example to those who seem to think that scientific theories are inflexible and static, arguments I continue to encounter about evolution.

Charon is a moon. How in the world do they figure it to be a planet? What about the Earth's moon, Mars' two moons, and the dozens of moons around Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune?

Their "science" is completely illogical. Pluto is a Kuiper object in close resemblance to a comet; just because it is "round" and "orbits a star" does not mean it is a planet.

I think their conclusions utterly ridiculous.

 

[LightHorseman]

Brent, well I'm sure you know more about it than the International Astronomical Union.

I believe the reason for Charon's inclusion is because it and pluto move in an iregular orbit, around a clearly defined lagrange, more of a binary system thaen a true satelite-primary system, like Earth and the moon.

Other than that, I'm not a professional Astronomer. I suggest you ask one, or look up the IAU website for answers, rather than sit here and ask rhetorical questions and pontificate on why the professionals don't know what they are talking about.

If, you have a Masters or better in Astrophysics or Cosmology, you have my immediate and total apologies.

Oh, and the point of the topic was really "See? Science is flexible, all you YEC advocates out there who call it a dogmatic religion"... so your criticism of the new findings is really sort of off topic.

 

[LightHorseman]

Oh. And Mars' two moons are hardly spherical.

 

[B®ent]

LightHorseman,

My uncle is a "professional astronomer" -- I am conveying his thoughts as well as mine, for he and I are in agreement on the subject. Regards,

Brent

 

[LightHorseman]

Yeah? ask him how he feels about Xena then... given its BIGGER than pluto... it looks like one way or another, our number of planets is up for a change

 

[B®ent]

Yeah? ask him how he feels about Xena then... given its BIGGER than pluto...

Only slighlty larger (5% roughly). Either way, we're talking small potatoes -- much smaller than the Earth's moon, and far less massive (about 20% of the Moon's mass). Pluto and Xena are both Kuiper belt objects -- they're large comets, not plantets. Anyway, I predict that once a dozen or more of these so-called "planets" are discovered," astronomers will realize how absurd their new classification system is, and make the proper corrections.

 

[LightHorseman]

VERY large comets... but I guess we'll have to wait and see

 

[LightHorseman]

Woah... I just noticed your tag line by Franco... whats with that?

 

[B®ent]

VERY large comets... but I guess we'll have to wait and see

True enough.

As for the Franco quote, what can I say? I admire the man.

(I'm a Christian Falangist)

 

[artybloke]

Because it is constantly being revised and updated, it is worthless in the face of the never-changing Bible (e.g., you will often hear, "Science texts are always going through revisions, but MY Bible never changes.")

MY Bible doesn't change - but HIS (insert random renegade Christian group) does. That's why we have all these denominations.

Also, of course, things that don't change tend to be dead.

 

[LightHorseman]

As for the Franco quote, what can I say? I admire the man.

And how do you feel about Hitler and Musolini?

 

[B®ent]

And how do you feel about Hitler and Musolini?

Mussolini was a coward. As for Hitler, I despise the man!

You must remember that fascism in one country is usually radically different from fascism in another country. The history, traditions, culture, religion, etc., differs from Nation to Nation, and therefore so does the ideology. Nationalism (from a right-wing approach) and Corporatism are essentially the only principles these ideologies have in common.

 

[LightHorseman]

That, and Franco was a dictator who ruthlessly oppressed his opposition, marginalised and brutalised minorities, and was on first name terms with Hitler and his top staffers, so much so that the German Army virtually won the civil war for him.

Yeah, other than that, their poles apart

 

[artybloke]

No paseran.

 

[Melethiel]

Is this new classification official? Last I heard about it, it was just a proposal.

 

[random_guy]

Personally, I think we should drop Pluto as a planet. It just doesn't make sense to add 4 new itt-bitty planets which may cause the addition of many more in the future. Plus, Pluto seems very similar to Satan, and we don't want to give any glory to him.

 

[B®ent]

It just doesn't make sense to add 4 new itt-bitty planets which may cause the addition of many more in the future.

Precisely.