Pluto Saved!

[legion]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0608160229aug16,1,671181.story?track=rss

A planet, they decreed, is any star-orbiting object so large that its own gravity pulls in its rough edges, producing a near-perfect sphere.

I know you all were worried.

[cashflyer]

Mickey will be happy that Pluto is safe.

[widebody911]

However, Uranus is still in danger.

[legion]

Is that a warning, Thom?

[widebody911]

Originally posted by legion
Is that a warning, Thom?

Hey look, you just dropped something...

[Porsche-O-Phile]

How do they define "near perfect" sphere - is there some acceptable degree of eccentricity?

What if a humongous asteroid hit it and blasted a big crater into it so it was kind of "death star" shaped?

For that matter, what about in Return of the Jedi where the death star II was only half-built? Does that count as "near circular"? Could it have been classified as a planet?

Did orbital plane eccentricity not factor into this at all? Pluto's orbit is way out-of-plane with the rest of the planets.

I always did like Pluto, but the question still remains - what the hell is Goofy?

[scottmandue]

I liked the front page of a local paper:
"Log on to our website to vote in our poll, should there be twelve planets?"
As if you average Joe cares or has the knowledge to make such a decision.

[scottmandue]

So is Pluto a conservative or a liberal?
Just want to keep things on topic.

[Nathans_Dad]

Originally posted by Porsche-O-Phile
For that matter, what about in Return of the Jedi where the death star II was only half-built? Does that count as "near circular"? Could it have been classified as a planet?

Dude, your lack of Star Wars geekiness is showing:

"That's no moon, it's a space station." -- Obi Wan Kenobi

The Death Star was OBVIOUSLY a moon, and never thought to be a planet. DUH.

[red-beard]

No no no, Liberals are "Goofy"

[Porsche-O-Phile]

The Death Star II was twice the size of the Death Star I, so it might easily have been mistaken for a planet.

Aside from the fact it was in orbit around the second moon of Endor though. Then again, the second moon of Endor might have been quite large and aside from knowing it was in orbit around said moon, it still might have been mistaken for a planet. . .

[cowtown]

Originally posted by Porsche-O-Phile
How do they define "near perfect" sphere - is there some acceptable degree of eccentricity?

They match it up against George Michael's a$$ and check the curvature. "Scientists use it to calibrate their instruments, Dennis!"

Too old?

Edit - wow, three typos in two sentences....

[legion]

Originally posted by Porsche-O-Phile
The Death Star II was twice the size of the Death Star I, so it might easily have been mistaken for a planet.

Aside from the fact it was in orbit around the second moon of Endor though. Then again, the second moon of Endor might have been quite large and aside from knowing it was in orbit around said moon, it still might have been mistaken for a planet. . .

How do you know that Endor was moon or a planet?

"Forest Moon of Endor" can mean two things:

Endor is a moon, that is forested...

OR

Endor is a planet, with a forested moon...

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Does he still "buff it and polish it" every night?

I thought it was the "second moon" of Endor. . . Have to check my tapes/books.

Still the question remains - if Pluto is a dog then WTF is Goofy?

[cashflyer]

So the attorney says, "Mickey, I think I understand your situation, but I must tell you that you cannot divorce Minnie for being crazy."

To which Mickey replied, "I never said she was crazy... I said she was f0king Goofy!!"

[nostatic]

borg

[Nathans_Dad]

Originally posted by Porsche-O-Phile
The Death Star II was twice the size of the Death Star I, so it might easily have been mistaken for a planet.

Aside from the fact it was in orbit around the second moon of Endor though. Then again, the second moon of Endor might have been quite large and aside from knowing it was in orbit around said moon, it still might have been mistaken for a planet. . .

[Yoda Voice]

Hrm...wise you have become young padawan...yes....wise and smelly too!!

[/Yoda Voice]

[scottmandue]

I want to say I am deeply offended by the gay reference in this thread... and besides whatever Micky and Goofy do behind closed doors is their business... and think of poor Minnie!

I just hope Donald doesn't find out.

[nostatic]

borg

[1967 R50/2]

"The three new planets encompassed by the group's definition would be the asteroid Ceres, Pluto's moon, Charon, and an object beyond Pluto called 2003 UB313, nicknamed Xena."

Xena rocks. Flippin around in short leather outfits....get's you your own planet. Not a bad way to go. Babes there must be hot.