Collin Smith said:
Regarding Pluto, I think it's important to consider what scholars in the know think. Without a doubt, a better source than amateur postings on AstroMart is Mike Brown, professional astronomer and discover of the largest object orbiting the Sun outside Neptune ...
http://www.gps.caltech.edu/~mbrown/eightplanets/
http://www.gps.caltech.edu/~mbrown/whatsaplanet/revolt.html
and his requiem to his own Xena ...
http://www.gps.caltech.edu/~mbrown/whatsaplanet/requiem.html
Read these three and I think any rational person would have to say that insisting Pluto remain in the same category as, say, Neptune, is more than just conservative; it's reactionary. People certainly have the right to be reactionary, and to hold on to beliefs LONG after they're obviously held for cultural reasons than scientifically valid ones.
I work in IT and live in a very conservative part of the US. The people I work around are quite intelligent, and many are gifted programmers. But many of them also believe the Earth is 6,000 years old, the Noahic Flood is an historical (hysterical? :-) event, and that Jesus Christ's return in imminent.
Pluto's demotion is common sensical, and based on sound scientific reasoning. Jeffrey, do you believe in Geology? And if you don't, then your beliefs about Astronomy are as equally invalid.
The Bible doesn't change. It's text, barring amazing archeological discoveries of Aramaic or Hebrew texts from the First Century or before (an unlikely event) are fundamentally set. Science DOES change, and that's what this is all about. If Science didn't change we'd all still be Ptolemeists (Ptole-Maoists ?)
These "scholars in the know" you talk about, no disrespect intended, all have a piece of paper hanging on their wall saying "I'm smart".. That doesn't mean they are reasonable, nor have any common sense. That's not to say ALL scholars.. Just those whom insist on being right no matter what. Just like the string theory where all the "scholars in the know" had dismissed it entirely! Why? Because the scientist that came up with it wasn't "in the club".. Now, just because us "non-paper-toutin'" astronomers aren't in the "club" doesn't mean we're stupid! And I'm quite well versed in Geology, the science (not belief) thank you so why would you want to invalidate my knowledge of astronomy? Because I'm not "in the club"? Also, I don't "believe in" your King James version of the Hebrew bible. Science has proven it was fabricated, or "built" of only certain books (stories) to ensure what the Priests (in the club) wanted the "common" folk NOT to know.
Science doesn't change, only our understanding of it does.. The same goes for your King James version of the Hebrew bible.
Ptolome wasn't a Maoist...
