New Planet Possibly Discovered

[Grom 0]

Source: Foxnews.com

AP Story

 

LOS ANGELES — Astronomers announced Friday that they have discovered a new planet larger than Pluto (search) in orbit around the sun, likely renewing debate over what exactly is a planet and whether Pluto should keep its status.

 

The planet — the farthest-known object in the solar system — is currently 9 billion miles away from the sun, or about three times Pluto's current distance from the sun.

 

"This is the first object to be confirmed to be larger than Pluto in the outer solar system," Michael Brown, a planetary scientist at the California Institute of Technology (search), said in a telephone briefing Friday.

 

Brown labeled the object as a 10th planet, but there are scientists who dispute the classification of Pluto as such.

 

Astronomers do not know the new planet's exact size, but its brightness shows that it is at least as large as Pluto and could be up to 11/2 times bigger. The research was funded by NASA (search).

 

Brown has submitted a name for the new planet to the International Astronomical Union (search), which has yet to act on the proposal, but he did not release the proposed name Friday.

 

The briefing was hastily arranged after Brown received word that a secure Web site containing the discovery was hacked and the hacker threatened to release the information.

 

Brown and colleagues Chad Trujillo of the Gemini Observatory and David Rabinowitz of Yale University first photographed the object in 2003 using a 48-inch telescope at the Palomar Observatory.

 

But it was so far away that its motion was not detected until data was analyzed again this past January. It will take at least six months before astronomers can determine its exact size.

 

It has taken scientists this long to find the planet because its orbit is at an angle compared to the orbits of most planets. The new planet is rocky and icy, similar to Pluto, Brown said.

 

Alan Stern of the Southwestern Research Institute in Boulder, Colo., said he was not surprised by the discovery since other objects around the size of Pluto have been found in the Kuiper belt, a disc of icy debris beyond the orbit of Neptune.

 

What's unique about the latest finding is that the object appears to be bigger than Pluto, he said.

 

"Unless they've made a grave mistake, this is for real," said Stern, who had no role in the discovery.

[Murdok Helios 0]

I wonder what they are going to name it, if it is a new planet. Since all the others have been named after Roman Gods,

 

Jupiter - King of the Gods

Neptune - God of the Sea

Pluto - God of Death

Mars - God of War

Venus - Goddess of Love

Mercury - Messenger of the Gods

Saturn - God of Time

Uranus - Father of Saturn

 

the new planet should be named...

 

Vulcan - The BlackSmith God! :lol: Names where found at this site.

[Grom 0]

I wonder what they are going to name it, if it is a new planet. Since all the others have been named after Roman Gods,

 

Jupiter - King of the Gods

Neptune - God of the Sea

Pluto - God of Death

Mars - God of War

Venus - Goddess of Love

Mercury - Messenger of the Gods

Saturn - God of Time

Uranus - Father of Saturn

 

the new planet should be named...

 

Vulcan - The BlackSmith God! :lol: Names where found at this site.

I was more thinking Cupid. :lol:

[slaw11 0]

that is cool why not name it vulcan we can build the startrek universe MUHAAAAAA

lol

[WesleyMustDie 0]

Wow...nice name suggestion.

 

I get Discover magazine, so I knew there was a new planetoid, but I didn't know about the debate.

[Cptn Corizon 0]

And...the real question is does anyone care? :lol:

 

 

Vulcan wouldn't seem to fit though, because Vulcan is associated with fire and heat whereas this planet is cold and icey. Perhaps Proserpine, Pluto's wife. :lol:

 

 

Or even Cerberus, watchdog of the Underworld :P

[Quv 0]

I'd rather name it Bacchus. The god of wine and partying. I think thats what our solar system needs. More wine. More partying.

[knlwtchr 0]

Vulcan wouldn't seem to fit though, because Vulcan is associated with fire and heat whereas this planet is cold and icey. Perhaps Proserpine, Pluto's wife. :lol:

Are you trying to say something about wives, NDak? :lol:

[Ramdar Goftar 0]

they should name it Romulus it colder than vulcan

[DaryusZaphodDracal 0]

I'd rather name it Bacchus. The god of wine and partying. I think thats what our solar system needs. More wine. More partying.

I agree there Quv. Bacchus would make a great name for a planet.

[WesleyMustDie 0]

And...the real question is does anyone care? :lol:

 

 

Vulcan wouldn't seem to fit though, because Vulcan is associated with fire and heat whereas this planet is cold and icey. Perhaps Proserpine, Pluto's wife. :P

 

 

Or even Cerberus, watchdog of the Underworld :P

Some of us do care, Corizon. :lol:

 

And you're right, Vulcan wouldn't fit...but Cerebus sounds really cool.

[eagle 0]

Source: Foxnews.com

AP Story

 

LOS ANGELES — Astronomers announced Friday that they have discovered a new planet larger than Pluto (search) in orbit around the sun, likely renewing debate over what exactly is a planet and whether Pluto should keep its status.

 

The planet — the farthest-known object in the solar system — is currently 9 billion miles away from the sun, or about three times Pluto's current distance from the sun.

 

"This is the first object to be confirmed to be larger than Pluto in the outer solar system," Michael Brown, a planetary scientist at the California Institute of Technology (search), said in a telephone briefing Friday.

 

Brown labeled the object as a 10th planet, but there are scientists who dispute the classification of Pluto as such.

 

Astronomers do not know the new planet's exact size, but its brightness shows that it is at least as large as Pluto and could be up to 11/2 times bigger. The research was funded by NASA (search).

 

Brown has submitted a name for the new planet to the International Astronomical Union (search), which has yet to act on the proposal, but he did not release the proposed name Friday.

 

The briefing was hastily arranged after Brown received word that a secure Web site containing the discovery was hacked and the hacker threatened to release the information.

 

Brown and colleagues Chad Trujillo of the Gemini Observatory and David Rabinowitz of Yale University first photographed the object in 2003 using a 48-inch telescope at the Palomar Observatory.

 

But it was so far away that its motion was not detected until data was analyzed again this past January. It will take at least six months before astronomers can determine its exact size.

 

It has taken scientists this long to find the planet because its orbit is at an angle compared to the orbits of most planets. The new planet is rocky and icy, similar to Pluto, Brown said.

 

Alan Stern of the Southwestern Research Institute in Boulder, Colo., said he was not surprised by the discovery since other objects around the size of Pluto have been found in the Kuiper belt, a disc of icy debris beyond the orbit of Neptune.

 

What's unique about the latest finding is that the object appears to be bigger than Pluto, he said.

 

"Unless they've made a grave mistake, this is for real," said Stern, who had no role in the discovery.

like pluto though , they are still debating as to wether it is a planet or just a part of the kypher belt......hhmmmmm...looks like,smells like, nah... can,t be another planet ....can it?? :lol: :lol: :P

[Merina 0]

Mirnerva would be a good name

[Nemesis 0]

name it Nemesis! nothing more cold and icey than my heart :lol:

[Nicolas Lepage 0]

If they don't name it the planet Athena, I'll be crestfallen.

If they keep the tradition of Roman names Athena is out. Athena is the Greek goddess of wisdom, war, the arts, industry, justice and skill and the favourite child of Zeus.

Edited August 2, 2005 by Nicolas Lepage

[eagle 0]

how about a new angle....namely "freia"after the norse legends......... :lol:..i believe it is spelled correctly..... ;)

Edited August 2, 2005 by eagle

[Murdok Helios 0]

if your going norse Gods, then you have to go with my man Thor

[eagle 0]

if your going norse Gods, then you have to go with my man Thor

norse god true enough,......... however not associated with ice and cold.....thor= god of thunder.... :lol: ;) :D

[eagle 0]

I stand corrected. How about Vesta?

or how about dr.pepper..... or ice slush....... or on the rocks....yeah thats it on the

rocks.. ;) :D :lol:

[Nicolas Lepage 0]

As long as it's not puppy slush...

[DaryusZaphodDracal 0]

How bout Nimbus 3. ;)

[knlwtchr 0]

How about Vioxx III?

[Seiben 0]

Or even Cerberus, watchdog of the Underworld :P

Hmm, not bad name. :)

[eagle 0]

How about Vioxx III?

wont work, the fda would just pull it from the solar system......... :) :P :lol:

[WesleyMustDie 0]

Hey! Good question! :P