Sedna & the status quo

I wonder if, at some point in the future, Sedna will be truly embraced by
the general public as a member of the "real" planets. I doubt it. The
accepted family structure of our solar system is a father (Sol), a mother
(Luna), and 9 siblings (the planets). This is what people are comfortable
with and Sol and Luna will have bear no more children. They may adopt but
that's not quite the same.

Too faint, too small, too far. . .any or all of these factors will stop an
object from being one of the sun's planets, as recited by fifth graders,
forever.

---
Martin
Remove "ilikestars" from email address

Martin R. Howell:
I wonder if, at some point in the future, Sedna will be truly embraced by
the general public as a member of the "real" planets. I doubt it.

What's in a name? The body is what is is, and it won't know what we
name it, anyway.

The accepted family structure of our solar system is a father (Sol), a mother
(Luna), and 9 siblings (the planets). This is what people are comfortable
with and Sol and Luna will have bear no more children.

Are these "people" so pathetic that that's they way they see the Solar
System? (Not saying you're wrong, just asking, because I was unaware of
this view.) To me our Solar System consists of a star, nine or so major
planets, a bevy of smaller planets, myriad rocks, a passel of comets,
and a a very large but unknown--and probably unknowable--number of
other bodies, all orbiting around a common center of mass. Do "people"
really need the sappy family metaphor?

Too faint, too small, too far. . .any or all of these factors will stop an
object from being one of the sun's planets, as recited by fifth graders,
forever.

What's in a name?

Davoud

--
usenet *at* davidillig dawt com

Davoud and I chatted:

The accepted family structure of our solar system is a father (Sol), a
mother
(Luna), and 9 siblings (the planets). This is what people are
comfortable
with and Sol and Luna will have bear no more children.

Are these "people" so pathetic that that's they way they see the Solar
System? (Not saying you're wrong, just asking, because I was unaware of
this view.) To me our Solar System consists of a star, nine or so major
planets, a bevy of smaller planets, myriad rocks, a passel of comets,
and a a very large but unknown--and probably unknowable--number of
other bodies, all orbiting around a common center of mass. Do "people"
really need the sappy family metaphor?


Yes Davoud, we (both amateur and professional astronomers) see and recognize
many components to the solar system. But then again, we live and breathe
that knowlledge interact ing with it on a regular basis. The "people" I am
referencing are the little old lady walking slowly across the street trying
to get to the other side before the light turns green and the young teen boy
putting his arm around his date at this moment waiting for the movie to
start. As a side, your choice of the word "pathetic" is interesting. . .I
might have chosen the word "ignorant."

Do people really need the sappy family metaphor? Well, no and furthermore I
really don't think the general populace is even aware of the mythology
involved. I used it simply as a synonym for "status quo."


Too faint, too small, too far. . .any or all of these factors will stop
an
object from being one of the sun's planets, as recited by fifth graders,
forever.


What's in a name?


A name denotes, at least for me, some level of acceptance or, at the least,
recognition. It is a key element of all languages and language is a key
element to thought. . .or something like that.


With respect to you Davoud,


Martin