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There really is a big problem with the new definition of a Planet, vs Dwarf Planet, in declaring that a Planet can "clear the neighbourhood around its orbit."
by kelseydh 1y ago
There really is a big problem with the new definition of a Planet, vs Dwarf Planet, in declaring that a Planet can "clear the neighbourhood around its orbit."
The further away a body orbits from its star, the more unreasonable it is to expect a planetary body to clear the neighbourhood around its orbit. Not even a large gas giant could hope to do it at far enough distances. What do we call those? Pluto could have easily cleared its orbital neighbourhood if it was close to the Sun like Mercury.
- dmos62 1y agoSeems like the "dwarf" term is not about absolute size, but about its orbital dynamics.
- kelseydh 1y agoThe lack of scientific consistency reveals itself when talking about exoplanets outside our solar system. The exoplanet 2MASS J21265040-8140293 is separated from its star by 7400 AU. Its unlikely that planet is clearing its orbital neighbourhood, yet we don't declare it an "exo-dwarf-planet".