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When no category really fits the best option is to just come up with a new name. Planets were initially defined by their motion in the nights sky. That’s cont
by Retric 2y ago
When no category really fits the best option is to just come up with a new name.
Planets were initially defined by their motion in the nights sky. That’s continued to this day by saying they must have cleared their orbit. So if a large mass formed alone it really doesn’t fit the ancient or modern definition of a planet.
Further, many of these things may eventually become stars as they attract enough mass. Calling something that turns into a star in a 10 billion years a planet until suddenly swapping to young stellar object when the conditions change, just doesn’t fit IMO.