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Old 27-November-2008, 12:08 PM
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timb timb is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by eburacum45 View Post
Try 'Planetary System'
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planetary_system
that distinguishes it from our own solar system, and from any star systems which have multiple stars but no planets.
Seems inconsistent. Notice it's the solar system, ie it's named after the star. That's why some people refer to systems of exoplanets and the star they orbit as stellar systems. You might prefer that terminology if you think that planets are just an external feature of stars, or it could be considered a broader term than "planetary system". Most stars probably have something orbiting them, if only residual rocks and icebergs. Secondary stars, sub-stellar companions, dust disks, planets, rocks and icebergs could all be considered part of a star's "system". How about "planetary system" for systems of planets and "stellar system" (name of star substitutable for "stellar") for the system around and including a star?
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