Is Vesta the "Smallest Terrestrial Planet?
Dec 9, 2011: NASA's Dawn spacecraft spent the last four years voyaging to asteroid Vesta – and may have found a planet.
Comments:
First it was the Eris/Pluto controversy - i.e. You THINK you're a planet, but you can't even keep control over your own backyard!<br>I think the saying goes: You talk the talk, but you can't walk the walk! :-)<br><br>Now it's that punk asteroid Vesta, the new troublemaker on the block. <br><br>Yes I know some of you think Pluto is still a planet, more power to you! <br>But what about our little buddy Vesta, with its iron core and fancy-pants geology? <br>Doesn't it deserve a seat at the table, too? <br><br>Maybe we should replace our categories with a "Better Stars and Planets" rating system. <br>Start with two necessary ID cards to get in the door:<br>1) You've got to be round, and<br>2) You have to orbit a STAR<br><br>Give everyone who gets in 10 points.<br><br>Now deduct points for things like:<br>* You live in an unruly neighborhood, and the neighbors keep telling you what to do and stealing your deck furniture.<br>* A small fusion plant in your basement. Actually, I think this gets you thrown out immediately!<br><br>Special bonus points are awarded for:<br>* Lawn decorations such as Moons. Best points for big, but not TOO big!<br>* Good interior design. Put all the heavy stuff in the basement, and fluffy stuff in the attic. <br>* Central convection heating is always a winner.<br><br>The contest judges are open to other suggestions.<br><br>Using this system, everything from Mercury to Jupiter gets a 10.<br>We might give Pluto an 8.5 (4 moons!) and Vesta gets about a 6 (1 point deducted for sloppy roundness)<br><br><br><br>"There are two kinds of people in the world. <br>Those who like to put things into neat little categories,<br>and those who have long since given up on doing so."<br>-km
Well I think that if it has differentiated and orbits a Star - ITS A PLANET!<br><br>Can our astronomers only count to 10? Why is it a problem id there's more than a certain number. The 'must have cleared out it's orbit' stuff is clearly BS. Even Jupiter hasn't really cleared out it's orbit. There's going to be trojans, etc. It's a stupid, complicated and unnecessary definition.<br><br>We can't use 'round' because a 10mm diameter iceball could be 'round, and that would not be a planet in anyones estimation. Let's get this discussion rolling again!<br><br>
Funding Member
