Space/Science — HabitableZone

Space/Science » in reply to re: Back in 1845

re: Yes, and maybe...

the larger round (well-more or less round) asteroids should be re-classified as planets now.

In effect, the asteroids are planetary bodies in any case, since most of them orbit the Sun independently. That many -- indeed almost all -- appear to fail the "roundness" test suggests they wouldn't fit the criterion set by Marc Buie for planetary designation, so they would have to be called something else, oh, why not "asteroids" or "planetoids" or some such. ;-)

But meanwhile, the debate over Pluto and the other large known KBOs is still odd. Those who want to "demote" Pluto seem to want to do so based on little more than ancient rivalry.

Time to get over it. Add lots more planets! Populate the Solar System!

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