The article http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1145/whatever-happened-to-planet-x or Whatever Happened to Planet X, originally written in 1996 is in serious need of an update. Starting in 1992, we discovered the first of thousands of Trans-Neptunian bodies, including one in late 1996, (15874) 1996 TL66, , which is a candidate for Dwarf Planet classification status. Every few years we were discovering larger and larger minor planets in the outer solar system - Sedna, Ixion, Orcus, Varuna, Quaoar, and finally, (the trio which would eventually be named) Makemake, Haumea, and Eris.
More to the point, the dwarf planet Eris, (whose discovery was directly responsible for the demotion/reclassification of Pluto from planet to dwarf planet) was referred to as Planet X by many before it received its proper name. Coincidentally, though waaaay smaller, it even has a 557 year orbit and is highly inclined to the orbital plane, similar to the planet predicted by Joseph Brady in 1972!
While the information in the original column is absolutely correct regarding perturbation recalculations, etc., the full picture of the concept of Planet X would be incomplete without including the recent discoveries and subsequent restructuring of our perception of the Solar System.
“Planet X” was only one of many hypothetical trans-Neptunian planets. Pickering alone had suggested Planets O, P, Q, R, S, T, and U as possible solutions.
A major factor in all this confusion is that Newton’s law of gravity has never been solved as a calculus problem, except for a simplified universe with only two objects in it. So practical solutions of this kind of problem require masses of both guesswork and arithmetic—and this was before computers.
Only last month some scientists suggested that there may be an additional giant planet far, far beyond Pluto, which they have dubbed “Tyche”.
I agree that this one needs updating. I know it’s hard, no one has time, etc etc. And some old columns are merely quaint artifacts, like “How do I develop nude pictures?” But in cases like this where the original column has been completely superseded, it deserves at least a sentence or two addendum, if there’s not the ability to do a complete rewrite. Otherwise it rather undermines Cecil’s credibility, no? Especially for newcomers who don’t yet know about recycled columns. At the very least, can’t someone eyeball columns for egregious outdatedness and pull them out of rotation?
Whether they know about recycled columns or not, each one is clearly dated. And the classics are labeled as “Straight Dope Classics”. There’s only so much the editors of the site can do, you know?
Powers &8^]
Considering all the ruckus people like me–and I KNOW about recycled columns–stir up over this kind of thing, wouldn’t you think it would be a time-saver to pull the ones that are egregiously outdated? It’s easier than updating and writing responses.
Seriously though–if Cecil had been doing this since 1890, wouldn’t you wonder about the usefulness of a recycled column speculating that heavier-than-air flight might be impossible? Or one from 1770 discussing phlogiston? Quaint artifacts yes, “fighting ignorance” no.
What’s wrong with quaint artifacts? There’s no harm in a review of the current state of knowledge at the time. Are you really saying you’d be up in arms if a site was to reprint the musings of one of Cecil’s spiritual ancestors?
Powers &8^]
Congrats, VoronX, on achieving eternal fame through being the launch question for Cecil’s column. And, arguably, of being illustrated by Slug… if that’s you holding the pointer-thingy.
Something that came up in the update - I was under the impression that if you discovered a body you were allowed to name it? So how come Xena was superceded by Eris? Or is it more of a case of “you get to name it as long as you like classical mythology”?
This is a slight mischaracterization. “Xena” was never intended as the final name, it was a “placeholder name” or nickname. “Eris” was the official name suggested by the discoverer, and accepted by the IAU.
Because the discoverer officially requested the name be Eris, and only used Xena (and Gabrielle) as nicknames for convenience and humor.
…and the placeholder name got more popular coverage than usual, both because a possible new planet is cool and because “Xena” was in possession for a long time because a proper name couldn’t be decided upon until it decided whether the heck it was a planet or not.
Of course, Xena still survives in the official name for the former “Gabrielle”, which is “Dysnomia”, which is Greek for “lawlessness”.
Additionally to what the other posters who responded to your post said, the actual rule is the discoverer gets to suggest names until enough of the international astronomy community likes the suggestion. If they don’t like his first suggestion, he has to come up with another. However, he’s the only one allowed to make official suggestions. He gets to keep trying until he hits on a winner.
Although I don’t recall the situation ever occurring, I suppose if he dies before suggesting one the IAU accepts, then it will be thrown open to others, but that would be decided when and if the situation actually arose.
That’s actually a coincidence. If you read Mike Brown’s book, which b2220128 recommended in the post immediately above, Brown chose the name because it was a name associated with Eris and because the first part of Dysnomia (at least the way he pronounces it) is the same as that of his wife’s nickname, Di (for Diane). This copies the “pattern” established by James Christy, who discovered Pluto’s largest moon and named it Charon (his wife’s name is Charlene (nickname Char)). After he proposed the name, someone else noted the “connection” between lawlessness and Lucy Lawless.
