Hi all:
I have been trying to stay out of the recent discussion until something really
happens at the IAU. For me, I am concerned with it becoming too personal.
However, two things. When we (DPS) spoke to Rick Binzel last week, the IAU
committee (Rick was on it) was concerned that world opinion would be that the
US (ie Lowell Obs) would want to keep Pluto as a plane because is was
discovered by an American.
Also, if you look at the original counterproposal (being the dominant object)
which will get rid of Pluto as a planet, it was proposed by a group that
included 2 from Uruguay, 5 from France, 2 Brazil, 3 Italy, 1 Chech., 1
Argentina, 1 Mexico, 1 Russia, and 2 US. Not quite American dominated unless
you mean (North and SOuth America).
Larry
PS OPINION: No matter what ends up being the science behind defining a planet
(original definition gives us 5 since Earth was not a planet), Pluto, for
historical reasons, should remain a planet. OPINION: dwarf planet is a stupid
term and raises all sorts of misconceptions for kids, etc. Why not go with
size-challenged to be politically correct?
Quoting drtanuki [EMAIL PROTECTED]:
Hello List,
It appears that the only reason for dropping poor
Pluto from the list of planets is an American cultural
bias in that SIZE COUNTS. Pluto, as do the rest of
the planets, orbits the Sun in a somewhat regular
manner as a planet; therefore leave its classification
alone.
Science may change the status of Pluto; but Pluto
will still exist as it has without any concern of
Man`s (new-school-biased? Astronomer`s) scheme of
things.
Sincerely, Pluto fan for 9.Dirk Ross...Tokyo
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Dr. Larry A. Lebofsky
Senior Research Scientist
Co-editor, Meteorite If you give a man a fish,
Lunar and Planetary Laboratory you feed him for a day.
1541 East University If you teach a man to fish,
University of Arizonayou feed him for a lifetime.
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