Quote:
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Originally Posted by Argos
Current theories on planetary formation would rule out this possibility. If components of a planetary system are formed from a primeval disc [i.e. a roughly co-planar collection of objects] of dust an gas a round a star, then one would expect at least one planet (whatever its size and shape) with a stable orbit (whatever the orbit´s shape, except hyperbolic). Erratic objects would be called "planetoids" (whatever their shapes and sizes).
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Well, obviously objects
can have erratic orbits (KBO's in our own solar system) but where do you draw the line? If Earth had an eccentric orbit (if say, a large jupiter-sized body was closeby and knocked it out of a 'regular' orbit), would it then be no longer classified as a planet?
And what if we discover another Earth to Neptune sized object beyond the kuiper belt ... is distance going to be an issue as well?
with regards
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