============ UPDATE: Aaron has interviewed one of the discoverers. MP3: http://www.somethingpositive.net/050729-slackextra.mp3 Show Notes & Talk Back: http://www.slackerastronomy.org/wordpress/index.php/archive/10th-planet/#comments --------------------------------------- - THE SLACKER ASTRONOMY NEWSLETTER #2 - - July 29, 2005. - --------------------------------------- Because if you aren't going to care about something, you may was well not care about astronomy. ============================================================================= 1. SPECIAL EDITION: PLANETS ARE A DIME A DOZEN This is a special edition of the slacker astronomy newsletter. Right now the press is a dither over rumors and announcements of new planets beyond Pluto. We thought that we'd summarize the hullabaloo and put it in perspective for you. Which means, of course, we want in on the action too! First, the news: Astronomers have discovered an object that is at least as big as Pluto and maybe as much as a third larger. It orbits the Sun in a peculiar orbit far beyond Pluto. This object is called "2003 UB313". It was discovered in January and announced Friday, July 29. Only a day earlier, on Thursday, July 28 astronomers also announced an object that rivals Pluto in size, but it is unclear as to whether it is smaller than Pluto or slightly larger. It will take more observations to determine that. It is called "2003 EL61". But there is a Shamalayanian twist. The astronomers who discovered "UB313" also had independently discovered "EL61"! ("We see dead planets.") They just didn't make their announcement in time and a new group beat them to it! (Suckers.) SA suspects that the astronomers behind "UB313" were spooked by being scooped on "EL61". We would be too! So they decided to announce their UB313 discovery while it was still theirs. News is sketchy right now, but it seems more research and observation has gone into "UB313" right now (including observations with Spitzer) than into "EL61". Lots of people want to claim the 10th planet but the International Astronomical Union (IAU) makes the final decision. So everything is a little mixed up right now. Scientists and politics don't mix well and it will take some time for the dust to settle and the correct bribery checks to clear the Swiss bank accounts. Discoveries: http://www.gps.caltech.edu/~mbrown/planetlila/ http://www.gps.caltech.edu/~mbrown/2003EL61/ News Coverage: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4730061.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4726733.stm http://skyandtelescope.com/news/article_1560_1.asp A ROSE BY ANY OTHER NAME WOULD SMELL JUST AS FISHY. Now as to the definition of a planet. This debate reached a boiling point in the late 1990's when the IAU considered demoting Pluto to a minor planet. This was because some members predicted what would happen today (discovery of lots more Plutos) and wanted to prepare. The IAU punted the ball and voted to denote Pluto as both a planet *and* a minor planet. No reason why we can't have our cake and eat it too! In the website authored by the discoverers of "UB313" they clearly make pains to refer to it as "The 10th Planet" and don't refer to "EL61" as a planet. Sky & Telescope magazine and the BBC are also calling UB313 a planet. Interestingly, these discoverers are also the ones who discovered Sedna, another large Pluto-like object, which was discovered in 2001. Yet they admit that Sedna should not be referred to as a large planet. So "UB61" has clearly met a threshold for them, perhaps because it is definitely larger than Pluto, no doubt about it. SLACKER COVERAGE The Slacker Astronomy show on August 8 will be about this topic. Hopefully some of the dust will have settled, but don't expect the debate to be over yet! It will only have just begun. It probably won't be settled until the next IAU General Assembly in August, 2006. At the Slacker web site we also have started a talk back thread anyone can use to post comments about this topic. We'll post updates there too. And don't forget our recent July 25th show about Pluto's moon Charon: http://www.slackerastronomy.org/wordpress/index.php/archive/sharin-charon-show-19/#comments Our psychiatrists say that in order to relieve our stress we have to let the voices in our heads out every now and then. Below is the result. It is an imagined dialog between Pluto and his staff. PLUTO ADDRESSES HIS STAFF: I'm afraid this is the day we've all dreaded, but secretely knew would come. We are no longer the last planet in the solar system nor the only planet in the Kuiper Belt. Our patent has run out. The lawyers helped us in 1999, but it is out of their hands now. V.P. OF HR: There will likely be layoffs. PLUTO: We must begin offering research grants and subsidies to astronomers. With a few carefully planted words we can scare the astronomers into demoting this new rabble rouser. V.P. OF MARKETING: Create fear, uncertainty and doubt! C.I.O: Then embrace, extend and extinguish! V.P. OF MARKETING: Great ideas, all. We finally have justified the purchase of our copy of Business at the Speed of Light. (to secretary) Write it off now. SECRETARY: Already did, as a doorstop. V.P OF MARKETING: We just need to sell ourselves and prove how unique we are. We are the only one out here with an atmosphere and a Moon. CHARON: I am more than a Moon. I am an equal partner. ** The room erupts in laughter. ** V.P OF MARKETING: Believing our own press releases again? CHARON: Oh yeah, sorry about that. V.P. OF MARKETING: Sedna has a Moon too. CHARON: Sedna! Sedna! Sedna! She is always trying to steal my attention! V.P. OF CHANNEL SALES: All I need to do is call a meeting of the International Astronomical Union. We'll threaten a strike and picket the Earth. I'd like to seem them reach Moon and Mars while crossing our union lines! V.P OF MARKETING: No, that won't do at all. We must put on a smiling face and then leak word to a few astronomers that there are many more planets about the be discovered. They will fear the change. They will be uncertain of the future. They will doubt the credibility of this new rock. They will vote to protect us. PLUTO: How can you be so sure? V.P. OF MARKETING: Our ace up the sleeve, we have Disney on our side. ============================================================================= ADMINISTRIVIA To unsubscribe just reply to this e-mail with "unsubscribe". Feedback to: info@slackerastronomy.org Web site and archives at: http://www.slackerastronomy.org ============================================================================= End.