RE: New thinking on planets
Hi caveman,
Isn't that just so - our whole comfort zone of astronomy is about to be 'reclassified.' Pluto does orbit the Sun, therefore it is a planet. I don't know what the problem is. Yes, I think you could be right - it's blinking boredom among these astronomers.
I read years ago, that the Earth and Moon were a 'double planet' system, and that one circles the other. I know that our Moon is far larger than some planets' Moons, but from my astronomical observations, I'd say it was a satellite, and that the Earth is not a 'sister planet' to it. I don't know how some people arrived at a 'double planet' idea. Tch!
Love,
Patsy.
😀
RE: New thinking on planets
I remember reading that the moon once wasn't there. Is that true or was I reading some sci-fi garbage?
RE: New thinking on planets
Hello caveman,
No, it wasn't garbage. The Moon wasn't always there, and not only did we have two Moons, but the Earth had a ring, a la Saturn. The second Moon was flung out as the Earth stabilised, and became captured by Mars. I don't know what happened to the ring that we once had, but it must have been an amazing sight to see in the night sky at that time (some primordial time in the extreme remote past.) Also, our Moon now wasn't round as we see it, but all lumpy and bumpy. It became rounded as the Earth's gravitational pull exerted iself, and this is what led to scientists believing that the Earth and Moon were a double planet system. I remember now caveman - it's all coming back to me. The Moon was once a passing asteroid, I think, and the Asteroid Belt is an undeveloped planet.
The Solar System should have a sign up saying, 'Caution - Solar System Under Construction - please take care!'
Love,
Patsy.
😀
RE: New thinking on planets
[link= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4798205.stm ]http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4798205.stm[/link]Theres a bit more about it here Patsy,
Sharonx
RE: New thinking on planets
Hi Sharon,
Thanks for the link. Here is a link to a science website, which talks about the 'Saturn-like ring', which once surrounded the Earth. It also fills in the gaps about what happened to the ring:
[link= http://www.science-frontiers.com/sf012/sf012p07.htm ]http://www.science-frontiers.com/sf012/sf012p07.htm[/link]
Love,
Patsy.
[:-]