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Old June 14th 06, 03:44 PM posted to sci.space.policy,sci.astro.amateur,sci.astro,alt.astronomy
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Default Definition of a planet

David Knisely wrote:
I don't see it as a "done deal" by any means, but quite frankly, it is
probably the direction that things need to go. It is certainly less
arbitrary than just setting a minimum diameter for no apparent reason.


I think we agreed on that the last time.

Using a density/radius curve for a diameter "cutoff" as Stern and
Levison have done seems a logical way to decide whether an object might
be classified as a planet rather than just an asteroid. Clear skies to you.


Well, I agree it's more logical than just setting a minimum diameter.
But so far, I don't think you've contradicted my initial statement,
which was merely that I was unsatisfied with this definition because it
couldn't be made (or at least hasn't yet) both precise and non-
arbitrary. (Yes, I realize those aren't absolute terms, but there's
still a significant component of each as it stands.)

--
Brian Tung
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