Archive for August, 2006

Stop the presses, there are now only 8 planets!

Thursday, August 24th, 2006 at 12:25 PM

Well, the IAU has changed their minds. We now have 8 Planets!
The International Astronomical Union (IAU) has changed their minds on the topic of planets. They initially proposed 12 planets but now have decided that there are 8 “Classical” Planets consisting of Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
The IAU resolution 5A [...]

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A New Solar System - 12 Planets!

Thursday, August 17th, 2006 at 10:43 AM

Wow! The International Astronomical Union (IAU) has submitted to its membership a new set of definitions for planets and smaller solar system bodies. They are now called “Planets” and “Plutons”, or pluto-like bodies. Please see the IAU text, http://www.iau2006.org/mirror/www.iau.org/iau0601/iau0601_release.html
Planets are defined as “a large and round body”. This implies that the planet [...]

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