Space/Science » in reply to I really don't understand the debate...

re: Ceres is spherical

Raoul — 2/4/2006 8:07:15 PM (archived)

1,000 km diameter.
A mission called Dawn was meant to explore it but there are funding problems.
Piazzi, an Italian, discovered it before Neptune was found and even though it is spherical, it was demoted.
Planets are an easy way to start teaching astronomy. That's why it matters! If we have to contradict astronomy books, we have to explain why (there are 10 planets, then 11, then 12..then we have to explain what a planet is...But then do very young children listen?

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The whole thread (20 posts)

• 2003 UB 313 - Raoul - 2/1/2006 7:32:36 PM
  • re: 2003 UB 313 - Marcia - 2/2/2006 8:22:10 PM
    • Is Earth a planet? - Scott Evil - 2/3/2006 2:35:48 AM
      • No! We are living on a very large, very spherical asteroid! [wink!] ;-) (n/t) - Jacob Samorodin - 2/4/2006 9:08:02 PM
    • Why not call it a "Kuiper Belt Planet"? - DALeffler - 2/2/2006 11:57:59 PM
      • re: Why not call it a "Kuiper Belt Planet"? Hmm, KBO or... - Marcia - 2/4/2006 2:26:17 AM
        • I really don't understand the debate... - R.L. - 2/4/2006 3:41:07 AM
          • re: Ceres is spherical - Raoul - 2/4/2006 8:07:15 PM
          • re: I really don't understand the debate... It's simple, really (imho). - Marcia - 2/4/2006 4:16:34 AM
    • re: A matter of size and choices - Raoul - 2/2/2006 9:07:08 PM
      • still waiting? - nick hoffman - 2/3/2006 12:44:18 AM
        • re: You're right;) (n/t) - Raoul - 2/3/2006 6:43:19 AM
          • Now now... - R.L. - 2/3/2006 7:08:16 PM
    • re: 2003 UB 313 --- - Marcia - 2/2/2006 8:25:50 PM
  • Some links - R.L. - 2/1/2006 8:22:01 PM
    • I'm confused - Adam - 2/1/2006 9:28:39 PM
      • If I may... - et - 2/2/2006 2:40:03 AM
        • There have not been measurements of the objects temperature in the microwave spectrum....until now. (n/t) - et - 2/2/2006 2:40:41 AM
      • I will see what I can find out - R.L. - 2/2/2006 2:34:36 AM
        • Darned reporters... - Adam - 2/2/2006 2:04:15 PM