[ATMoB-discuss] (Fwd) Earth is no longer a planet

[A. Joseph Ross]

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Quoted without attribution on Usenet:

Celestial Observers say Earth is not a Planet.

LESSER RED SPOT, Jupiter.

Professional Celestial Observers have voted, and decided to 
reclassify
Earth, which is no longer a planet, but instead a "dwarf rockball".

Celestial Observers voted to accept a new definition of "planet",
which explicitly lists the criteria that spacial bodies will have to
meet before they can be considered for planet status.

For now, that means that only four bodies in the Solar System --
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune -- qualify.

Earth doesn't meet the requirements, being only 1/14th of even
Uranus's mass, and largely lacking in Hydrogen content. Its one moon
was also part of the debate, with arguments over the minimum number 
of
moons a planet should have.

"Initially, we thought Earth and Luna were rogue moons, lost from 
some
failed planet. Then there was the theory that Earth used to be a
planet like ours, but who's Hydrogen atmosphere had evaporated into
space from being so close to the Sun. Now we realize that these dwarf
rockballs are left over from the formation of the solar system, and
just didn't manage to accumulate enough mass to make to planet 
status"
said Observer SH'Nub'ftgath.

Earth joins Mercury, Venus, and Mars in the sub-planet club. There is
still some discussion if Luna should also be classified as Earth's
moon, or if Earth-Luna should be considered a dual planet orbital.

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A. Joseph Ross, J.D.                   617.367.0468
15 Court Square, Suite 210         Fax: 617.742.7581
Boston, MA 02108-2503         http://www.attorneyross.com