Space, Dreams and Beyond

Astronomers around the world are surely divided on fate of the number of planets in the solar system and so is the public reaction. It wont be easy for everyone to change the notion of  ‘ Nine planets’.  Is it necessary to bring these changes or astronomers are just bored is a debatable question.

The resolution is to have 12 planets, which would mean addition of Ceres(Demoted from planet status about 100 years back), Charon (Pluto’s moon), and 2003 UB 313 (Farthest known object in Solar System) to the planet list .

Then there are reports of Pluto being demoted to a dwarf planet and eventual possibility of Earth’s Moon being added to the list (long after you and I die), subjected to to survival of Earth-Moon system.

Immediate question which comes to the mind is how frequently we will update this list and how strongly will this definitions stand over the centuries. Would something be retained as ‘XXX Classical Planets of XXXX World’ just as we have ‘ Seven Wonders of the Ancient World’ 

Astronomers are divided on every aspect and what ‘may’ happen depends on who you ask! So I just stopped following the reports and look forward to the outcome of meeting at International Astronomical Union (IAU) at Czech capital of Prague. (Sounds so similar to my name!)

I hope whatever they come up with, they come with a strong definition which will allow only addition of planets as and when they are found but not be dropped like Ceres only to be reconsidered as a planet after 100 years and now the shaky status of Pluto!