You can't tell the planets without a scorecard
I've been copying articles about Pluto and the controversy over whether it (and certain other bodies) should count as planets, to put in the library's Vertical File in case some kid wants to do a report or science project about it.
This was a nice article, with nice graphics. (There was another one in the New York Times the other day, too.)
And I couldn't resist this one:
(Yes, I really put it in the PLUTO folder.)
And meanwhile, in the Sidelights section, PNH posted a link to this: The "dwarf planet" formerly called "Xena" has been given the official name Eris.
This is a very appropriate name: In mythology, Eris caused a quarrel among goddesses that sparked the Trojan War. In real life, Eris also caused strife, forcing scientists to produce a strict definition of the term planet - and that eventually led to Pluto losing the status it had held since its discovery in 1930.
The moon formerly known as "Gabrielle" will now be known as "Dysnomia, the daughter of Eris known as the spirit of lawlessness."
(Does anyone else see the relationship to the actress who played Xena on TV, Lucy Lawless? Maybe the IAU has more of a sense of humor about this than has come across lately.)
Which creates a dilemma: do I make a folder for Eris now? Do I leave her in SOLAR SYSTEM as I did when she was just "Xena"? Is the whole concept of the vertical file outdated in this modern era? I may make a poll on this but for right now comments are welcome.
This was a nice article, with nice graphics. (There was another one in the New York Times the other day, too.)
And I couldn't resist this one:
(Yes, I really put it in the PLUTO folder.)
And meanwhile, in the Sidelights section, PNH posted a link to this: The "dwarf planet" formerly called "Xena" has been given the official name Eris.
This is a very appropriate name: In mythology, Eris caused a quarrel among goddesses that sparked the Trojan War. In real life, Eris also caused strife, forcing scientists to produce a strict definition of the term planet - and that eventually led to Pluto losing the status it had held since its discovery in 1930.
The moon formerly known as "Gabrielle" will now be known as "Dysnomia, the daughter of Eris known as the spirit of lawlessness."
(Does anyone else see the relationship to the actress who played Xena on TV, Lucy Lawless? Maybe the IAU has more of a sense of humor about this than has come across lately.)
Which creates a dilemma: do I make a folder for Eris now? Do I leave her in SOLAR SYSTEM as I did when she was just "Xena"? Is the whole concept of the vertical file outdated in this modern era? I may make a poll on this but for right now comments are welcome.