The Solar System Adds More Planet? | Polymerize

So, what's up with that? Is our solar system actually growing new planets?

What most people have known as a nine-planet solar system may soon grow to include 12 planets or more. Well, it is not exactly as they thought. Although it is true that astronomers are constantly discovering new bodies in space, within and beyond our solar system, an official definition of "planet" may allow others to be added to the planetary family. 

By August 24, 2006, the International Astronomical Union is expected to come to an agreement on the first official definition of the term, "planet." If adopted, a "planet" must be at least 500 miles in diameter, orbit the sun, and have a mass at least one-12,000th that of Earth. A planet would also have to be round; roundness shows that the body's gravity is relatively strong. In previous proposed definitions, Pluto would have lost planet-hood, which to many astronomers, was unacceptable.

Under the current proposal, Pluto keeps its title and three other bodies in our solar system would be added: Pluto's moon Charon (actually, not really a moon, as it does not orbit Pluto like Earth's does), the asteroid Ceres, and another body called 2003 UB313, nicknamed Xena. Up until now, defining planets has a random history. The word "planet" comes from a Greek word meaning "wanderer," and planets became named after familiar gods of the time.

Hence, the planet "Jupiter," named after the Roman god of light and sky, and the planet "Mars," named after the Roman god of war. Technology has improved since Greek and Roman times, and especially over recent decades. With better telescopes, scientists can see ever finer details of "heavenly" bodies.

It was not until very recently, for example, that scientists could see that Ceres was mostly round like planets, rather than irregular-shaped like asteroids. Such clearer views have resulted in the even greater need for clearer definitions among astronomers. For most people, it is hard to imagine just how big the solar system is. So, it sometimes helps to break things down to more familiar scales.

For example, the distance from the Earth to the Sun is 149.6 million kilometers (km) or about 93 million miles (mi). To travel that same distance, you would need to circle the Earth's equator 3,733 times. Making the journey by jetliner would take nearly 21,500 days or 59 years of non-stop flying!

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