Should we reclassify small moons?

[Percivale]

Our gas giant planets have lots of moons, but I feel like we should say a body has to be big enough to be spherical to be classified as a moon; just call it a satellite otherwise, or dwarf moons. What is the size requirement now? How many moons would there be in the solar system if we chose this requirement?

 

[Brightmoon]

Interesting idea but I’m not an astronomer so .....

 

[Paulos23]

Minute Earth tried to answer that question.

 

[FrumiousBandersnatch]

Minute Earth tried to answer that question.

I like the idea that it's a moon if it has sufficient gravity to form a sphere, and the barycentre is within the boundary of its companion. But I'm no astronomer...

 

[Shemjaza]

I like the idea that it's a moon if it has sufficient gravity to form a sphere, and the barycentre is within the boundary of its companion. But I'm no astronomer...

Phew, Luna just scrapes in then.

(I guess it'd be a pretty crummy definition of moon if "The Moon" didn't qualify.)

 

[Ophiolite]

Our gas giant planets have lots of moons, but I feel like we should say a body has to be big enough to be spherical to be classified as a moon; just call it a satellite otherwise, or dwarf moons.

A change like this would require benefits that outweighed the disadvantages. There are three constituencies in that regard: professional astronomers, interested bystanders, the general public. In reverse order:

• The general public wouldn't care one way or the other. If they did notice it, half of them would put it down to pedantic footering with unimportant detail by ivory-towered losers; the other half would complain that this is how our tax money is wasted.
• The interested bystanders might find the distinction sensible and therefore useful. They might also find it reminiscent of the excellent/spiteful, ill-conceived/brilliant decision to reclassify Pluto.
  
• The professional astronomers, while applauding the logic, would see no particular benefit, but a definite risk for internecine debate of how it should be done.

In regard to naming the objects I suggest (not too seriously) the following:

• Fully spherical bodies - moons - the sphericity emphasised by the double 'o'
• Sub-speherical bodies - mons - the limited sphericity indicated by the single 'o'
• Small, irregular bodies - mins - no spherical 'o' and small size

And, obviously, artificial satellites would be called - mans

 

[Strathos]

No, because AV would start ranting about it in every unrelated topic.

 

[FrumiousBandersnatch]

No, because AV would start ranting about it in every unrelated topic.

No change there, then

 

[AV1611VET]

... just call it a satellite otherwise, or dwarf moons.

First you have to figure out how we got our moon (there are some seven different theories as to how we got our moon; let alone all the others in our solar system). If you can't figure it out, then do second best and just arrive at a census.

Then you have to change the dictionary definition of "moon."

Then you have to rig a vote by waiting until the planetary astronomers are gone.

If you're successful, two things may happen:

1. The American Dialect Society might coin a new term.

2. All science textbooks will have to be updated to reflect the new changes, forcing college students to purchase the new, updated AV2021 King James McGraw-Hill science textbooks at the college bookstore for about $275.00 more added to their tuition.

Piece of cake.

 

[Ophiolite]

Piece of cake.

Oh, AV. get with the program. We are talking about moons. MOONS. A piece of cheese, not a piece of cake.

 

[AV1611VET]

Oh, AV. get with the program. We are talking about moons. MOONS. A piece of cheese, not a piece of cake.

Oops! My bad!

 

[JackRT]

Phew, Luna just scrapes in then.

(I guess it'd be a pretty crummy definition of moon if "The Moon" didn't qualify.)

There is a strong argument to be made for the earth-moon system to be a double planet.

 

[NxNW]

There is a strong argument to be made for the earth-moon system to be a double planet.

Does either one have intelligent life?

 

[JackRT]

Does either one have intelligent life?

Jury is still out on that.

 

[Percivale]

I'm not seeing any clear size boundaries on what a moon is. Does Saturn have like a million moons that make up its rings? Why not?

 

[Ophiolite]

There is a strong argument to be made for the earth-moon system to be a double planet.

I love that as an idea, but the moon has only 1.2% of the mass of the Earth. How can one justify calling that set up a double planet.

 

[AV1611VET]

How can one justify calling that set up a double planet.

It's easy. Would you like to know how?

 

[Ophiolite]

It's easy. Would you like to know how?

Honestly? No.

 

[AV1611VET]

Honestly? No.

Okay.