A KBO the size of Mars.

Page 1 of 1 [ 6 posts ]

Joined: 18 May 2009
Age: 39
Gender: Male
Posts: 94

04 Jun 2009, 2:04 pm

If they found a KBO the size of Mars would it be a planet?

ruveyn
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 21 Sep 2008
Age: 89
Gender: Male
Posts: 31,502
Location: New Jersey

04 Jun 2009, 3:17 pm

SystemDown wrote:

If they found a KBO the size of Mars would it be a planet?

Probably. That is a matter of terminology.

ruveyn

Joined: 26 Nov 2007
Age: 40
Gender: Male
Posts: 3,731
Location: Boötes void

04 Jun 2009, 5:15 pm

That would depend, under the current official definitions, on if "cleared the neighbourhood of its orbit", which at that size it likely would.

_________________
* here for the nachos.

pakled
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 12 Nov 2007
Age: 68
Gender: Male
Posts: 7,015

04 Jun 2009, 5:16 pm

depends on whatever the standard is (they didn't even really have one until a coupla years ago). Some of the Jovian moons are the size of Mercury.

Joined: 26 Nov 2007
Age: 40
Gender: Male
Posts: 3,731
Location: Boötes void

04 Jun 2009, 5:17 pm

pakled wrote:

depends on whatever the standard is (they didn't even really have one until a coupla years ago). Some of the Jovian moons are the size of Mercury.

While Ganymede has a larger radius, it is significantly smaller by mass.

_________________
* here for the nachos.

ruveyn
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 21 Sep 2008
Age: 89
Gender: Male
Posts: 31,502
Location: New Jersey

04 Jun 2009, 5:56 pm

pakled wrote:

depends on whatever the standard is (they didn't even really have one until a coupla years ago). Some of the Jovian moons are the size of Mercury.

True. But they don't orbit the Sun. They orbit Jupiter.

ruveyn

Page 1 of 1 [ 6 posts ]

Jump to:

A KBO the size of Mars. Post Reply New Topic