Planet
From Slackerpedia Galactica
There are many things said about them. The IAU just said we had 8, before it was 9...
But really should we care what planets are? There all just junk left over when the Sun formed.
Contents |
What the IAU Sez
A planet is whatever the IAU says is a planet. The current definition is as follows:
...planets and other bodies in our Solar System be defined into three distinct categories in the following way:
(1) A "planet" is a celestial body that: (a) is in orbit around the Sun, (b) has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round) shape, and (c) has cleared the neighbourhood around its orbit.
(2) A "dwarf planet" or a planetoid is a celestial body that: (a) is in orbit around the Sun, (b) has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round) shape, (c) has not cleared the neighbourhood around its orbit, and (d) is not a satellite [of a planet].
(3) All other objects orbiting the Sun shall be referred to collectively as "Small Solar System Bodies".
A new way to remember the planets is
My
Very
Excited
Mother
Just
Served
Us
Nothing
The 8, uh 9, uh 8, uh whatever solar Planets
Inner Planets
Outer Planets
Controversial Planets
Extrasolar Planets
There are planets that orbit other stars. So many that they have their own Slackerpedia Galactica page.
