Astronomers claim discovery of solar system's 10th planet

PASADENA, California (CNN) -- A group of astronomers announced Friday that an object they discovered in the distant reaches of the solar system is large enough to be classified as the 10th planet -- a claim likely to reignite a debate over just how many objects should really have the title of planet.

The object -- located 96 times as far from the Earth as the Earth is from the sun, or nearly 9 billion miles away -- was first photographed in October 2003 by astronomers at the California Institute of Technology's Palomar Observatory, north of San Diego.

While researchers say they aren't yet sure of its actual size, they have determined the object is bigger than Pluto, currently the smallest planet and the one most distant from the sun.

"If Pluto is a planet, it seems reasonable that something that's bigger than Pluto, and further away than Pluto, should be called a planet, too," said Mike Brown, a Cal Tech planetary scientist who made the discovery with colleagues Chad Trujillo of the Gemini Observatory and David Rabinowitz of Yale University.

However, a number of astronomers dispute whether Pluto, discovered in 1930, should really be classified as a planet, because it is so dissimilar from the other eight. Instead, they believe it should be classified only as a Kuiper Belt object, part of an array of icy debris in the outer reaches of the solar system.

Thousands of Kuiper objects have been discovered, and more are being found all the time.

Brown concedes that both Pluto and his new planet are Kuiper objects -- but he argues they are also both big enough to be classified as planets.

The International Astronomical Union, the official arbiter of such disputes, has classified Pluto as a planet and recently declined to demote it. Brown said resolving the argument over whether the object his team found is a planet will take years.

Brown's team has submitted a name for its proposed planet to the IAU, which won't be announced until the astronomy group hands down its ruling.

While the object was first photographed in 2003, its motion was not detected until January because it was so far away. Since then, astronomers have been studying the object to estimate its size and motion.

Brown said the planet-sized object probably wasn't discovered earlier because it was in a location where planets aren't expected.

"All of the planets are in a disc around the sun, and this object is 45 degrees out of that disc," he said.

--CNN Producers Sara Weisfeldt and Kate Tobin contributed to this report.

I love the way nature always has a new suprise in store for us.

Subsequent evaluators are saying, 'So what?'

Apparently other 'big rocks;' are known to be out there, and have not been judged to be planets.

Looks like we will have to wait for scientific concensus to some agreed set of criteria.

And then consensus on the consensus.

PEACE

Jim Chester

quote:

Originally posted by James Wesley Chester:

Apparently other 'big rocks;' are known to be out there, and have not been judged to be planets.

Looks like we will have to wait for scientific concensus to some agreed set of criteria.

And then consensus on the consensus.

quote:

Originally posted by MBM:

While researchers say they aren't yet sure of its actual size, they have determined the object is bigger than Pluto, currently the smallest planet and the one most distant from the sun.

"If Pluto is a planet, it seems reasonable that something that's bigger than Pluto, and further away than Pluto, should be called a planet, too," said Mike Brown, a Cal Tech planetary scientist who made the discovery with colleagues Chad Trujillo of the Gemini Observatory and David Rabinowitz of Yale University.

quote:

Originally posted by art_gurl:
I love the way nature always has a new suprise in store for us.

Ain't no tellin' what all is out there...

If they're making it public info now, they probably discovered it years ago.

How about the Oort Cloud, home to a halo of millions of rocks of many different sizes? In about 1.4 million years,the star Gliese 710 will drift by us at a distance of about 1.1 light-years. This could send some of the rocks there our way. Some would be ejected from our solar system, too, but while it shouldn't disturb the major planets, it could give us a few more comets.

Anybody want to hang around to see what happens?

1.4 million years is a lot longer than the average commute, so we could very likely forget about it for a long time and not worry too much. I simply find it an interesting little fact.

Melesi, have you ever gone to an observatory and looked at the heavens through a high powered telescope? The speckley sight of a constellation of stars is truly magical and uplifting.

How weird can the universe get?

Who cares about #10, #6 is out of this world.

There is a hex on this planet.

Rings and Things!

umbra

quote:

Originally posted by FireFly:
I love the way nature always has a new suprise in store for us.

I just hope nature doesn't "surprise" us on 4/13/2029.

quote:

Originally posted by Santana St. Cloud:

I just hope nature doesn't "surprise" us on 4/13/2029.

so you think 'we' should always be in a position to control nature?

MN4 may not hit earth, but next time we might not be so lucky. So, yeah, if science and technology can find a way to "control nature" and save humanity, I'm fine with that. But, as for always being able to intervene.... Hmmm.... I don't know about always. For example, I think about people who aren't happy with their crooked nose, or wrinkles, or whatever. I just think when plastic surgery becomes a compulsion, a way to fulfill some sick need for perfection, I guess that's when I think the ability to control nature breaks down.

I know there are far more compelling arguments out there, but I can't get too cerebral.

Like Pammie & MJ? Yep, neither of them are too cerebral

Oh, I was definitely thinking MJ. :P I don't know if you've heard about Jocelyn Wildenstein down under. Talk about plastic surgery gone wild! Thing is, she was rather attractive before she decided to mess with nature.

If this thread has strayed off course, my bad. Talking about "stars" keeps it revelant, right?

oh they're still trying to find a planet to send all us black folks to. they'll call it black planet. . .unless the website has a copyright.

think about it. we call all be the brother from another planet.

Since Pluto was downgraded to mere orb status, this would be the 9th planet...