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The definition of planet set in 2006 by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) states that, in the Solar System, a planet is a celestial body which:
* is in orbit around the Sun,
* has sufficient mass to assume hydrostatic equilibrium (a nearly round shape), and
* has "cleared the neighbourhood" around its orbit.
Originally posted by NarcolepticBuddha
I might've known this thread was yours haha. Jupiter, like other planets, orbits the sun. That's my answer. I don't know if that's correct or not. This gas bubble is in orbit.
But wait! Why isn't Pluto a planet again?edit on 12-9-2012 by NarcolepticBuddha because: (no reason given)edit on 12-9-2012 by NarcolepticBuddha because: (no reason given)
Originally posted by NarcolepticBuddha
I might've known this thread was yours haha. Jupiter, like other planets, orbits the sun. That's my answer. I don't know if that's correct or not. This gas bubble is in orbit.
But wait! Why isn't Pluto a planet again?edit on 12-9-2012 by NarcolepticBuddha because: (no reason given)edit on 12-9-2012 by NarcolepticBuddha because: (no reason given)
Originally posted by Druscilla
reply to post by jiggerj
I'm fairly sure there's been speculation that Jupiter and Saturn are failed Brown Dwarf stars.
I'm not sure if that speculation has come to rest or not, but, Brown Dwarfs or no, they orbit the Sun like other planets, so, as our understanding of the solar system was what it was in the early days, if it orbited the sun, it was a planet.
Thus so.
Originally posted by winofiend
And in a quirk of circumstance, the actual wording for the criteria of a planet is a "Celestial body that orbits the Sun" -- which by definition excludes the Earth... But we all know the Earth is a planet.
Originally posted by jiggerj
Originally posted by winofiend
And in a quirk of circumstance, the actual wording for the criteria of a planet is a "Celestial body that orbits the Sun" -- which by definition excludes the Earth... But we all know the Earth is a planet.
Huh?
Originally posted by winofiend
Originally posted by jiggerj
Originally posted by winofiend
And in a quirk of circumstance, the actual wording for the criteria of a planet is a "Celestial body that orbits the Sun" -- which by definition excludes the Earth... But we all know the Earth is a planet.
Huh?
Huh?
I'll have a jab at what you're asking..
If someone asked you what planet are we closest to right now? Would you say the Earth? Or.. ponder it for a reasonable answer using our closest planets?
The same goes for a Celestial Body. It's defined as "any natural body outside of the Earth's atmosphere" -- excluding the Earth from the IAU definition.. An oversight.
Originally posted by NarcolepticBuddha
reply to post by winofiend
So, basically you're just needlessly splitting hairs? I don't have a second line here. Deal with it, folks.
Originally posted by NarcolepticBuddha
reply to post by winofiend
So, basically you're just needlessly splitting hairs? I don't have a second line here. Deal with it, folks.
Originally posted by SplitInfinity
reply to post by jiggerj
As far as Classifications....They have broken our Solar System down to 8 Planets with Pluto becoming part of the Kupier Belt or Ort Cloud Planetoids.
Jupiter is so Massive that if it were to be a bit more massive it might have the ability to become a Star. A Star after all is a large enough amount of gas...mostly Hydrogen that by it's own Gravity Well is capable of creating enough pressure to start a Fusion Reaction. This being Hydrogen being Fused into Helium and a immense Thermonuclear Reaction that becomes a Star.
There are so many Moons around certain Planets and there are Planetoids in the Kupier Belt and Ort Cloud that are larger than Mercury that it is just a matter of Classification.
Split Infinity
Originally posted by SplitInfinity
reply to post by felixjames20
You are right. Did you know that Saturn is so Light that it could FLOAT on the Surface of one of Earths Oceans?
Split Infinity