OT: Solar Object Naming Controversy

[kalthalior]

I saw an article on MSNBC about the problem astronomers are having naming/defining new objects being found in the solar system, and thought it might be of interest to the community.

Astronomers argue over what to call new discoveries

[narf poit chez BOOM]

interesting.

[dogscoff]

Here's a simple solution: Build a big-*** spaceship and send it off to gather up all these stupid little lumps of rock and pile them altogether into something useful (like a new planet=-)

Then we won't need all these different names for types of rocks because they won't exist any more, we'll just need a single name for the new planet. I propose "dogscofia".

[kalthalior]

Sol's Department of Stellar Renovations sued by Greenpiece, Sierra Club.

Geneva -- Environmental Groups Greenpiece and the Sierra Club sued in Planetary Court to stop the proposed development of the new planet of dogscoffia by Earth Worldgov's Department of Stellar Renovations. "These planetoids have a right to exist as they always have and spend their remaining days as the useless hunks of rock and ice they always have been," says Greenpiece club President Marko Gore. "who knows what possible benefit these wonders of nature may someday have for our children. I propose we make this area of the Sol system a stellar park and ban all future efforts at development. Earthforce Admiral Nimitz had this response. "The Navy has determined these planetoids are a hazard to navigation, should be removed, and stands by this assessment."

[ August 14, 2003, 17:30: Message edited by: kalthalior ]

[Loser]

The total mass of all the asteroids is less than that of the Moon.Of course, we dont' know anything near that much about the Oort Cloud or the Kruiper Belt...

Still, I'm not sure you can make much of a planet out of it all.

[dogscoff]

The total mass of all the asteroids is less than that of the Moon.Of course, we dont' know anything near that much about the Oort Cloud or the Kruiper Belt...

Still, I'm not sure you can make much of a planet out of it all.

Well, make it hollow then (think core-mount weaponry/ sound-system/ insert preferred tech-fetish here). Or make a Culture-esque Orbital (very material-efficient: Apparently you could make 10 Orbitals out of one Earth, so a moon-ish pile of rock should be plenty.)

If all else fails, we'll just "borrow" pluto and neptune. No-one will miss them. The Dofscofia project must go ahead!

[Loser]

Culture?
Orbital?

Is this project slated to recieve funding from capital investment?

Will you depend on socialist governemnt subsidies?

Are you planning on holding the moon for ransom?

[TerranC]

Originally posted by dogscoff:
If all else fails, we'll just "borrow" pluto and neptune. No-one will miss them. The Dofscofia project must go ahead!

I'll miss neptune. It's my favorite planet.