Quote:
Originally Posted by Ken G
Personally, I have no problem at all with calling Pluto a dwarf planet or minor planet, as long as these are viewed as subclasses of planet. It seems very unfortunate to me to limit the definition of planet to not include subclasses over which "comparative planetology" is clearly of great value.
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I am currently ok with calling Pluto a failed protoplanet, planetoid, or 'dwarf planet'. But perhaps I will change my mind after we visit Vesta (destroyed, yet differentiated), Ceres, and the Pluto system.
Planets should either be all inclusive (ie: spherical moons should be included) or they might as well have Planets be exclusive via requiring that they clear their orbits of comparable objects.
And since I don't think Luna and the large Jovian moons will ever be considered real Planets I think I am ok with Pluto not be considered a real Planet. We currently define Planets and Moons by 'where they are' as much as 'what they are'.
-- Kevin Heider