Astronomers detect '10th planet'

[no country for old wainds]

"Astronomers have detected what they are calling the '10th planet' orbiting our Sun.

It is bigger than Pluto, the ninth planet, which is 2,250 km across, and was discovered by three US astronomers.

It is the largest object found in our Solar System since the discovery of Neptune in 1846.

The object, designated 2003 UB313, is currently 97 Earth-Sun distances away - more than twice Pluto's average distance from the Sun.

It is in a peculiar orbit, unlike that of the other planets. Astronomers think that at some point in its history Neptune likely flung it into its highly inclined 44 degree orbit...."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4730061.stm

 

[Zack]

There have been many more "planets"
discovered inside this object, but this is still pretty big.

 

[Silver Incubus]

is this the infamous planet x people always talk about

 

[Zack]

Nope

 

[MasterOLightning]

I actually wrote a paper about this for my astronomy class. This is pretty much an insignificant rock, but calls into question what we define as a planet and what we call asteroids. Technically, Pluto probably shouldn't be a planet, but it's the most popular planet in many polls, and there's no real reason to change its status. There are probably hundreds of similar objects in orbit of the sun.

 

[Zack]

I actually wrote a paper about this for my astronomy class. This is pretty much an insignificant rock, but calls into question what we define as a planet and what we call asteroids. Technically, Pluto probably shouldn't be a planet, but it's the most popular planet in many polls, and there's no real reason to change its status. There are probably hundreds of similar objects in orbit of the sun.

Yes

 

[Kenneth R.]

and they will likely not name this new "planet" anything significantly short, because people can't agree on anything.

 

[Mormagil]

is this the infamous planet x people always talk about

Nope

Good answer, but I'm afraid it won't stop him from continuing to spew pseudoscientific nonsense.

 

[Silver Incubus]

Good answer, but I'm afraid it won't stop him from continuing to spew pseudoscientific nonsense.

ummmmmmmmmm what?

I was just asking a question.

 

[Mormagil]

Ah, my mistake. I was half-expecting you to start in with something about Nancy Lieder and Jim McCanney and their Planet X stuff.

 

[Xorv]

They also discovered a frozen lake on the surface of Mars. Where theres water, there is probably life.

 

[Zack]

Would I be wrong if I said Pluto was Planet X?

 

[MasterOLightning]

Yes. The X is for being the 10th planet as well as for being unnamed.

 

[Silver Incubus]

Ah, my mistake. I was half-expecting you to start in with something about Nancy Lieder and Jim McCanney and their Planet X stuff.

No I think that stuff is stupid. They say that it will destroy earth , when in fact it didn't, like I knew it wouldn't. LOL

 

[Zack]

Then wouldn't anything discovered after Pluto be named Planet X temporarily? Like Sedna?

 

[Mormagil]

No I think that stuff is stupid. They say that it will destroy earth , when in fact it didn't, like I knew it wouldn't. LOL

Right on.

 

[Infernium]

Well it's not a "really really" a new planet. It is about three times farer from the sun than pluto, so it's basically just in the line of our solar system.

 

[Kenneth R.]

They also discovered a frozen lake on the surface of Mars. Where theres water, there is probably life.

it takes more than water to shelter life

 

[Xorv]

^but water is essential for life to even exist.

 

[Kenneth R.]

true, i'm just saying evidence of water isn't enough