# New Planet Discovered in Our Solar System? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 29, 2005, 9:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-planet-discovered-in-our-solar-system/314713 "2005-07-29T09:18:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![squeegee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/squeegee/32/14537_2.png) [@squeegee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/squeegee)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2005, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-planet-discovered-in-our-solar-system/314713/41 "2005-07-30T21:45:45Z")
> [@mkl12](#): > > Sedna is a name from Inuit mythology, the goddess of the sea, and they will likely use another name from that or another arctic mythology. Hmmm, well, “[Idliragijenget](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Shortpages/Mythology/Inuit)” does have a pleasant ring to it. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2005, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-planet-discovered-in-our-solar-system/314713/42 "2005-07-30T21:47:49Z")
> [@mkl12](#): > > No, they don’t. It’s the same team that has previously discovered and named Sedna, and they got into a lot of trouble for using that name publicly before it was officially accepted. So now they keep the proposed name a secret and use code names instead. Sedna is a name from Inuit mythology, the goddess of the sea, and they will likely use another name from that or another arctic mythology. Whoosh! If you notice, I quoted the paragraph where it states that they’ve got an official name submission which they haven’t released to the public. On another message board, someone suggested that they should name the planet Cerberus, which is pretty nifty, and they could name the moon Fluffy. ---
**Author:** ![mkl12](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b4bc9f/32.png) [@mkl12](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mkl12)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2005, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-planet-discovered-in-our-solar-system/314713/43 "2005-07-30T22:06:49Z")
> [@Tuckerfan](#): > > Whoosh! If you notice, I quoted the paragraph where it states that they’ve got an official name submission which they haven’t released to the public. On another message board, someone suggested that they should name the planet Cerberus, which is pretty nifty, and they could name the moon Fluffy. Sorry. I wasn’t sure if you were joking. I just used your “mistake” as an opportunity to repeat some of the stuff I read today about the naming of this new object. ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2005, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-planet-discovered-in-our-solar-system/314713/44 "2005-07-30T22:22:29Z")
> [@mkl12](#): > > Sorry. I wasn’t sure if you were joking. I just used your “mistake” as an opportunity to repeat some of the stuff I read today about the naming of this new object. 'Zalright! [Here’s](http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/iau/lists/MPNames.html#A) a listing of all the minor planet names as of 7/19/05. There’s some pretty odd ones like “Bluepeter,” “Saltpeter,” and “ASCII,” as well as one named “Adamcurry”! So, I guess we can toss **Sampiro** ’s comment right out the window. ---
**Author:** ![dogbutler](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dogbutler/32/428_2.png) [@dogbutler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dogbutler)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2005, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-planet-discovered-in-our-solar-system/314713/45 "2005-07-31T00:40:59Z")
[Mondas](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Tenth_Planet). I for one welcome our expressionless chrome overlords. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2005, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-planet-discovered-in-our-solar-system/314713/46 "2005-07-31T01:12:18Z")
Hmm… Meteo?, naah, to Nintendian Fintlewoodlewix sorta rolls off the tongue, dontcha think? 😉 ahh who am i kidding, it _should_ be named Rupert ---
**Author:** ![Clothahump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@Clothahump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Clothahump)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2005, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-planet-discovered-in-our-solar-system/314713/47 "2005-07-31T01:53:25Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > If they follow the tradition of Roman gods, the most likely possibilites are: > > Minerva - Goddess of Wisdom > Proserpine - Goddess of the Underworld > Bacchus - God of Wine > Janus - God of Doors or past and future. > Maia - Goddess of Growth How about Doofus, ghod of the Dweebs? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2005, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-planet-discovered-in-our-solar-system/314713/48 "2005-07-31T03:25:41Z")
Why not sell the name rights, pimping the entire solar system, just like here on earth? Verizon SBC Ford’s Planet Thiacol ## Tris That last one was a signature, not a suggestion. The company donates a billion to astronomy, and gets their name in the heavens. It’s the right thing to do. Tris ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2005, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-planet-discovered-in-our-solar-system/314713/49 "2005-07-31T03:26:06Z")
> [@Tuckerfan](#): > > No, because the first probe we send to it will then be called ABBA. The upside would be that the logo would read correctly on both sides of the spaceship. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2005, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-planet-discovered-in-our-solar-system/314713/50 "2005-07-31T04:04:47Z")
> [@Triskadecamus](#): > > Why not sell the name rights, pimping the entire solar system, just like here on earth? > [@Fight Club](#): > > When deep space exploration ramps up, it will be corporations that name everything. The IBM Stellar Sphere. The Microsoft Galaxy. Planet Starbucks. Add to that Planet Golden Palace Casino, and Planet Viagra. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![MEBuckner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mebuckner/32/2896_2.png) [@MEBuckner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MEBuckner)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2005, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-planet-discovered-in-our-solar-system/314713/51 "2005-07-31T04:22:42Z")
I say we right a 224-year-old wrong and name it [George](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uranus#Discovery_and_naming_of_Uranus). ---
**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:** [July 31, 2005, 5:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-planet-discovered-in-our-solar-system/314713/52 "2005-07-31T05:10:17Z")
> [@Tuckerfan](#): > > Add to that Planet Golden Palace Casino, and Planet Viagra. 😃 And Planet Hollywood. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2005, 5:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-planet-discovered-in-our-solar-system/314713/53 "2005-07-31T05:25:07Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > And Planet Hollywood. 🙂 I’m surprised that they’re still in business, but [they are.](http://www.planethollywood.com/) ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2005, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-planet-discovered-in-our-solar-system/314713/54 "2005-07-31T23:29:09Z")
> [@Tuckerfan](#): > > Add to that Planet Golden Palace Casino, and Planet Viagra. 😃 Dude, the Baby Boomers are redefining everything. Planet Viagra sounds about right to me. The commercials will be rather scandalous. " Having trouble reaching Uranus? Take a ride on Planet Viagra !!! " 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2005, 8:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-planet-discovered-in-our-solar-system/314713/55 "2005-08-03T08:02:41Z")
[Man, those astronomers are a surly bunch.](http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/050802_planet_definition.html) > [@](#): > > “We declare that the new object, with a size larger than Pluto, is indeed a planet,” Brown wrote. “A cultural planet, a historical planet. I will not argue that it is a scientific planet, because there is no good scientific definition which fits our solar system and our culture, and I have decided to let culture win this one.” > > He advises the public to “ignore the distracting debates” of the scientists. > > It seems clear the IAU Working Group plans to ignore Brown, at least insofar as they expect to forge a scientific definition. > > Yet no matter what the group comes up with, you can bank on at least one more year of debate. For a definition to be made official, it must be voted on at an IAU General Assembly meeting. The next one is in Prague in August, 2006. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-planet-discovered-in-our-solar-system/314713.md?page=2)