to make determining whether an object is a planet actually useful for our understanding of the formation of the solar system My father (http://www.ociw.edu/research/sshectman/) pointed out to me that this definition will have zero effect on what science professional astronomers do. The only actual scientific effect it might have is on how much PR, and thus funding, they get, and so the best definition is the one that will get the most headlines going forward. Be too permissive and planet discoveries aren't news. Too strict and they don't happen often enough. The rounded bodies definition is probably about the right balance.
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Date: 2006-08-22 05:30 am (UTC)My father (http://www.ociw.edu/research/sshectman/) pointed out to me that this definition will have zero effect on what science professional astronomers do. The only actual scientific effect it might have is on how much PR, and thus funding, they get, and so the best definition is the one that will get the most headlines going forward. Be too permissive and planet discoveries aren't news. Too strict and they don't happen often enough. The rounded bodies definition is probably about the right balance.