Huge Planet Found Beyond Pluto

from the they-should-name-it-goofy dept

Astronomers claim to have found a 10th planet beyond Pluto. Though there is some continued debate as to the "planet-ness" of Pluto, astronomers are calling this object a planet since they are confident that this object, dubbed 2003 UB313, is much larger than Pluto. Apparently it's a good day for Trans-Neptunian Objects (TNOs), since an object, 2003 EL61,70% the size of Pluto was also announced today. Man, two TNOs in one day? It's like Christmas. Maybe that's why they nicknamed 2003 EL61 "Santa". Update Astronomer Mike Brown's webpage about the 10th planet states "We have proposed a name to the IAU and will announce it when that name is accepted." Hmmm.. Can anyone fathom a guess of the secret name? (Hint: take a look at the page title.. or url..)
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  1. identicon
    Anonymous But Brave, 29 Jul 2005 @ 11:23pm

    No Subject Given

    Perhaps Dennis could explain how a planet, according to TFA, that is 1 to 1 and a half times bigger than pluto is HUGE?

    link to this | view in thread ]

  2. identicon
    john fehn, 29 Jul 2005 @ 11:48pm

    Pluto a planet?

    ~~when i was in high school, i was taught that Pluto was NOT a planet. now that rumors abound that there's another planet beyond pluto, the question resurfaces about Pluto's status and on one science site, we the public are asked the question, is it or is it not a planet? to me it seems that size should have something to do with it but it’s all just semantics really. so, i made up my own rule: in order to be considered planets, planet-like objects must be either visible to the unaided eye (like mercury) or larger than any known moon in the solar system, which Pluto and this new guy aren’t . so that’s my 2 cents. cheers.
    ~steamerjon~

    link to this | view in thread ]

  3. identicon
    Dave G, 30 Jul 2005 @ 1:11am

    Re: Pluto a planet?

    well as a youngen and still in school, they now teach us that there are 9 planets... including pluto, so i guess this debate was solved in the past already... and correct me if im wrong but doesnt a planet need a moon in order to be classified as a planet? i thought i heard that somewhere.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  4. identicon
    P., 30 Jul 2005 @ 6:56am

    Re: Pluto a planet?

    "Planet" doesn't have a precise definition. It refers to any object in orbit of a star, that's not a star, but larger than an asteroid or comet.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  5. identicon
    Mohamed, 30 Jul 2005 @ 7:15am

    Planet name

    i think its gonna be named "Found" :) hope its the right answer..

    cheers~

    link to this | view in thread ]

  6. identicon
    dorpus, 30 Jul 2005 @ 7:45am

    Yeah but what about refugees

    When are those planets gonna get packed full of illegal immigrants too? Why deal with our problems at home when we can export them into space?


    link to this | view in thread ]

  7. identicon
    Mike, 30 Jul 2005 @ 11:32am

    10th Planet

    Don't take that name on the page as the name of the planet...from the site itself:

    For those speculating that the name proposed is "Lila" based on the web site name I must warn you that that is really just a sentimental dad's early morning naming of a web site for his three week old daughter and one should not take it too seriously!

    link to this | view in thread ]

  8. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 30 Jul 2005 @ 2:07pm

    No Subject Given

    It circles the sun and has it's own moon. I'd say it's a planet.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  9. icon
    ConceptJunkie (profile), 31 Jul 2005 @ 6:00am

    Re: Pluto a planet?

    I've never heard that qualification before.

    Besides, based on that criterion, Mercury and Venus aren't planets.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  10. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 31 Jul 2005 @ 11:25am

    Re: Pluto a planet?

    Technically Charon is not a moon of Pluto because it does not revolve around Pluto actually they both orbit around a fixed point directly between them.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  11. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 31 Jul 2005 @ 2:22pm

    Re: Pluto a planet?

    Actually, all planetary bodies orbit a point between the two masses. Usually the differences in mass are so great that the point resides within the larger object.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  12. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 31 Jul 2005 @ 9:52pm

    No Subject Given

    lets name it otulp!

    link to this | view in thread ]

  13. identicon
    Anonymous Coward, 31 Jul 2005 @ 11:47pm

    Re: Yeah but what about refugees

    @ dorpus

    A rather stupid idea right, instead of the illegal immigrants just shoot the villains and terrorists to the moon, nah too close pluto would be fine i think.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  14. identicon
    Daniel, 27 Nov 2005 @ 1:00pm

    Re: Pluto a planet?

    UM yeah There is more proof of Pluto being a planet than not because Pluto is NOT a Asteroid, a moon, or a comet. Unless we Missed a huge planet.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  15. identicon
    Steven, 12 Mar 2006 @ 7:56am

    Re: Re: Pluto a planet?

    OF COURSE VENUS AND MERCURY ARE PLANETS IDIOT!

    link to this | view in thread ]

  16. identicon
    jonny, 28 Sep 2006 @ 1:58am

    jonny

    jonny

    link to this | view in thread ]

  17. identicon
    jonny, 28 Sep 2006 @ 2:48am

    jonny

    jonny

    link to this | view in thread ]

  18. identicon
    jonny, 28 Sep 2006 @ 2:48am

    jonny

    jonny

    link to this | view in thread ]

  19. identicon
    jonny, 28 Sep 2006 @ 2:48am

    jonny

    jonny

    link to this | view in thread ]

  20. identicon
    jonny, 28 Sep 2006 @ 2:49am

    jonny

    jonny

    link to this | view in thread ]

  21. identicon
    lala, 29 Jan 2007 @ 12:40pm

    moon

    wow

    link to this | view in thread ]

  22. identicon
    Payton, 23 Jan 2008 @ 12:50pm

    What

    When is Mercury found I wonder.

    link to this | view in thread ]

  23. identicon
    neo, 31 Mar 2008 @ 9:43pm

    Huge Planet Found Beyond Pluto

    the planet name acording to sumeria is Niberu the 10th planet.

    aka the destroyer

    link to this | view in thread ]


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