# And then there were eight: Pluto no longer a planet **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [August 24, 2006, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-then-there-were-eight-pluto-no-longer-a-planet/370036 "2006-08-24T14:05:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2006, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-then-there-were-eight-pluto-no-longer-a-planet/370036/21 "2006-08-24T15:43:23Z")
[Darth Vader] “Emperor, the destruction of the planet Pluto proceeded without incident. I am moving the Deathstar into orbit around the planet Uranus awaiting further targeting instructions.” _breathe_ [/Darth Vader] ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Il\_Palazzo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Lord\_Il\_Palazzo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Il_Palazzo)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2006, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-then-there-were-eight-pluto-no-longer-a-planet/370036/22 "2006-08-24T15:50:54Z")
Now that just makes no sense. Just the other day, I found [this article](http://www.iau2006.org/mirror/www.iau.org/iau0601/iau0601_resolution.html), also from the IAU stating that under a new definition of “planet,” Pluto was in. Now they say it isn’t. What gives? The definition in the article I found specified two conditions: [ul] [li]The body must be in orbit about a star without being either a star itself or a satellite of another planet.[/li][li]The body must have sufficient gravity to be formed into a nearly spherical shape.[/li][/ul] Pluto had those two covered. But the article you posted seems to imply that they added a third condition: > [@](#): > > ‘‘a celestial body that … has cleared the neighborhood around its orbit.’’ > Pluto is automatically disqualified because its oblong orbit overlaps with Neptune’s. When did they decide to add that? Why isn’t Neptune also out? Both of them are planets by the first two requirements but their orbits intersect. Why does Pluto get bumped but not Neptune? This just seems odd. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2006, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-then-there-were-eight-pluto-no-longer-a-planet/370036/23 "2006-08-24T16:32:47Z")
[QUOTE=Pixisis] Most Violent Extraterrestrial Monsters Just Seek Understanding, Naturally. [/QUOTE] Actually, shouldn’t that be more like, “Most Violent Extraterrestrial Monsters Just Seek Unnatural Neighbours”? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Mad\_Hermit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b5ac83/32.png) [@The\_Mad\_Hermit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Mad_Hermit)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2006, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-then-there-were-eight-pluto-no-longer-a-planet/370036/24 "2006-08-24T16:40:11Z")
Why is everyone here protesting? This is an attempt to shed the ignorance of the varied objects in the solar system, and everybody wants to ignore it in favor of outdated thinking? Besides, I always wondered why a dog had a pet dog. Bondage? … they should have added planets, but I see the reasoning. ---
**Author:** ![Diceman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Diceman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Diceman)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2006, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-then-there-were-eight-pluto-no-longer-a-planet/370036/25 "2006-08-24T16:50:38Z")
I’m still trying to figure out what “cleared the neighborhood around its orbit” means. Can someone translate this into plain English? ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2006, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-then-there-were-eight-pluto-no-longer-a-planet/370036/26 "2006-08-24T16:55:28Z")
[QUOTE=The Mad Hermit] Besides, I always wondered why a dog had a pet dog. Bondage? [/QUOTE] Who had a pet dog, now? ---
**Author:** ![Draelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Draelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Draelin)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2006, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-then-there-were-eight-pluto-no-longer-a-planet/370036/27 "2006-08-24T16:58:04Z")
[QUOTE=Captain Amazing] Who had a pet dog, now? [/QUOTE] _Goofy_, of course. 🙂 Although, wasn’t Pluto Mickey’s dog? ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Griffin-Kentzel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_griffin-kentzel/32/14787_2.png) [@Larry\_Griffin-Kentzel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Griffin-Kentzel)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2006, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-then-there-were-eight-pluto-no-longer-a-planet/370036/28 "2006-08-24T17:00:49Z")
I’ve merged **JR Brown** and **ivylass** ’ threads. **Cajun Man** for the SDMB ---
**Author:** ![Draelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Draelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Draelin)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2006, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-then-there-were-eight-pluto-no-longer-a-planet/370036/29 "2006-08-24T17:04:01Z")
[QUOTE=Diceman] I’m still trying to figure out what “cleared the neighborhood around its orbit” means. Can someone translate this into plain English? [/QUOTE] I think it’s the astronomical equivalent of “You smaller celestial bodies, get off my lawn!” ---
**Author:** ![JR\_Brown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JR\_Brown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JR_Brown)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2006, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-then-there-were-eight-pluto-no-longer-a-planet/370036/30 "2006-08-24T17:04:05Z")
[QUOTE=The Mad Hermit] Besides, I always wondered why a dog had a pet dog. Bondage? [/QUOTE] No, no, no. Pluto is a dog. Goofy is a _**[dawg.](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a4_077.html)**_ Haven’t you been keeping up on your classics? [QUOTE=The Mad Hermit] Why is everyone here protesting? This is an attempt to shed the ignorance of the varied objects in the solar system, and everybody wants to ignore it in favor of outdated thinking? … they should have added planets, but I see the reasoning. [/QUOTE] Grandfather clauses have a long and distinguished history in science. The taxonomical grandfather clause allows the scientific name of the boa constrictor to remain _Boa constrictor_ even though it was first decribed under another name (some awful thing I have forgotten). Too bad it wasn’t proposed in time to save _Eohippus_. So the IAU could have passed their new rules for planethood and still given Pluto special exemption. 76 years of planethood shouldn’t be lightly dismissed. Plus, it’s a cute little iceball and it’s all sad and lonely out there now. JRB ---
**Author:** ![IntelInside](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a5b964/32.png) [@IntelInside](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IntelInside)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2006, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-then-there-were-eight-pluto-no-longer-a-planet/370036/31 "2006-08-24T17:15:52Z")
**M** other **V** ery **E** asily **M** ade **J** elly **S** andwiches **U** nder **N** o … 😕 ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2006, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-then-there-were-eight-pluto-no-longer-a-planet/370036/32 "2006-08-24T17:28:48Z")
[QUOTE=Diceman] I’m still trying to figure out what “cleared the neighborhood around its orbit” means. Can someone translate this into plain English? [/QUOTE] As far as I can tell, it means that all nearby objects orbit it - that it’s not in a belt of rubble such as the asteroid belt or Kuiper Belt. AFAICT, Pluto doesn’t count because it’s not the barycentre of its system - Charon and Pluto orbit a common point above the surfaces of either. Folks, feel free to tell me if I’m _à côté de la traque._ ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2006, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-then-there-were-eight-pluto-no-longer-a-planet/370036/33 "2006-08-24T17:30:35Z")
Incidentally, all the news sources are reporting that Pluto is being demoted “because its orbit intersects with Neptune’s”, which is ridiculous. AFAICT having an eccentric orbit has no bearing on the matter, and Pluto’s orbit doesn’t intersect with Neptune’s anyway (they never come any closer to one another than 30 AUs). ---
**Author:** ![Pixisis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f17d59/32.png) [@Pixisis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pixisis)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2006, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-then-there-were-eight-pluto-no-longer-a-planet/370036/34 "2006-08-24T17:40:55Z")
[QUOTE=Sunspace] Actually, shouldn’t that be more like, “Most Violent Extraterrestrial Monsters Just Seek Unnatural Neighbours”? 🙂 [/QUOTE] better. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Monstre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@Monstre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstre)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2006, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-then-there-were-eight-pluto-no-longer-a-planet/370036/35 "2006-08-24T17:43:14Z")
[QUOTE=Count Blucher] [Darth Vader] “Emperor, the destruction of the planet Pluto proceeded without incident. I am moving the Deathstar into orbit around the planet Uranus awaiting further targeting instructions.” _breathe_ [/Darth Vader] [/QUOTE] [Stormtrooper]He said ‘Ur-anus’ _giggle__snort_ _gack!_ I’m sorry, my Lord! I didnt’ _gasp_ mean anything _gack_ by it![/Stormtrooper] ---
**Author:** ![Monstre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@Monstre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstre)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2006, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-then-there-were-eight-pluto-no-longer-a-planet/370036/36 "2006-08-24T17:49:17Z")
So if it’s now reclassified as a dwarf planet, does this mean we’ll have to give it a new name? My vote is for **Grumpy**. I’d be grumpy, too, if my planetary status were suddenly yanked away after so long. Although **Bashful** might work, too. ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2006, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-then-there-were-eight-pluto-no-longer-a-planet/370036/37 "2006-08-24T17:51:50Z")
[QUOTE=Monstre] So if it’s now reclassified as a dwarf planet, does this mean we’ll have to give it a new name? My vote is for **Grumpy**. I’d be grumpy, too, if my planetary status were suddenly yanked away after so long. Although **Bashful** might work, too. [/QUOTE] What with that orbital tilt and all, **Dopey** or **Sleazy** might be just as good… ---
**Author:** ![Cluricaun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/bb73d2/32.png) [@Cluricaun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cluricaun)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2006, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-then-there-were-eight-pluto-no-longer-a-planet/370036/38 "2006-08-24T18:01:01Z")
My Ventilated Exoskeleton Machine Joins Skin Unto Needles. ---
**Author:** ![Monstre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e274bd/32.png) [@Monstre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monstre)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2006, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-then-there-were-eight-pluto-no-longer-a-planet/370036/39 "2006-08-24T18:14:20Z")
[QUOTE=Sunspace] What with that orbital tilt and all, **Dopey** or **Sleazy** might be just as good… [/QUOTE] Or **Drunky** , on that note… ---
**Author:** ![Ace309](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ace309/32/1050_2.png) [@Ace309](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ace309)\ **Post date:** [August 24, 2006, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/and-then-there-were-eight-pluto-no-longer-a-planet/370036/40 "2006-08-24T18:42:23Z")
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