Eight Is Enough

I'm not talking about that TV show from the late 70s - early 80s.

I'm talking planets here.

Folks are meeting to decide on an official designation on the object currently known as the planet Pluto. From the website of the IAU XXVIth General Assembly in Prague

The ongoing work on an IAU Resolution to scientifically define the meaning of the concept „planet“ is of particular interest to the public.

The IAU is the arbiter of planetary and satellite nomenclature since its inception in 1919. The boundary between planets and other solar system objects has never been defined and the recent discoveries of new objects in the solar system has made it necessary for the IAU to address this issue.

The decision process and a draft Resolution for the Definition of a Planet will be published in the conference newspaper during the first week of the General Assembly.

The IAU Executive Committee invites the General Assembly to a Plenary Discussion on the Definition of a Planet issue:

Tuesday, August 22, 12:45 - 13:45 in the Congress Hall.

The press is invited to attend.

If that doesn't sound like a party, I don't know what does.

Given the many irregularities of that solar body compared to the others designated as a planet, and given that 2003 UB313 has as valid of a claim planethood if Pluto continues to be recognized as such, I'm guessing that the various committees that are chosen to decide the fate of that solar body will vote against both Pluto's and 2003 UB313's planethood.

It was fun while it lasted Pluto, the textbooks will have to be rewritten once more.

It seems kind of short shrift to only schedule one hour of consideration for poor little Pluto (and the slightly larger 2003 UB313), given that its been considered a planet for more than 70 years.

Although, truth be told, I lean towards not caring one way or the other.