By Robert Roy Britt, SPACE.com
A 12-person committee representing the world's largest group of planetary scientists on Thursday threw its support behind a new planet-defintion proposal that would increase the tally of planets in our solar system to 12. More dissent emerged, too, from several prominent planet experts.
The definition, proposed yesterday at a meeting of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in Prague, preserves Pluto's planet status and essentially classifies as planets all round objects that orbit the Sun and do not orbit another planet. The tally of planets is expected to eventually soar into the hundreds if the resolution is passed by a vote next week.
The Division for Planetary Sciences (DPS), a group within the American Astronomical Society, has the opposite view. The 12-member DPS Committee, elected by the membership, "strongly supports the IAU resolution," according to a statement released Thursday.
read more .... usatoday.com
Earth's moon could become a planet
By Robert Roy Britt SPACE.com
Friday, August 18, 2006; Posted: 12:11 p.m. EDT (16:11 GMT)
(SPACE.com) -- If astronomers approve a newly proposed planet definition next week, things could get really strange. Sure, asteroid Ceres will become a planet. Pluto's moon Charon will become a planet. But we're talking really strange.
Eventually, if Earth and its moon survive long enough, the moon will have to be reclassified as a planet, said Gregory Laughlin, an extrasolar planet researcher at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
The new definition, proposed this week by the International Astronomical Union (IAU), basically says every round object orbiting the sun is a planet, unless it orbits another planet. But there is a big caveat: If the center of gravity, called the barycenter, is outside the larger object, then the smaller object is a planet. That wording elevates Pluto's moon Charon to planethood, an idea some astronomers have criticized
read more in .... cnn.com
Pluto may yet lose planet status
Stephen Battersby - 20:24 18 August 2006 - NewScientist.com news service
We were about to gain a horde of new planets; now we might lose one instead.
In Prague, astronomers are trying to define what it means to be a planet. A draft definition released on Wednesday would have extended the the club from the conventional nine to twelve, and soon to many more (see Three new planets may join solar system).
read more in ..... New Scientist
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