Dwarf planet discord.Things continue to change at the outer edge of the solar system solar system, the sun and the surrounding planets, natural satellites, dwarf planets, asteroids, meteoroids, and comets that are bound by its gravity. The sun is by far the most massive part of the solar system, containing almost 99.9% of the system's total mass. . On Aug. 24, Pluto was demoted from planet to "dwarf planet dwarf planetBody, other than a natural satellite (moon), that orbits the Sun and that is, for practical purposes, smaller than the planet Mercury yet large enough for its own gravity to have rounded its shape substantially. ," leaving only eight true planets in the solar system. Now, astronomers have given another dwarf planet an official name. Once known as Xena, the dwarf planet's new name is Eris, after the Greek goddess of discord and strife. Eris' moon also has a new name: Dysnomia, the Greek goddess of lawlessness law·less adj. 1. Unrestrained by law; unruly: a lawless mob. 2. Contrary to the law; unlawful: the lawless slaughter of protected species. 3. . Xena and its moon, once called Gabrielle, were originally named after a popular TV show about a warrior princess The concept of warrior princesses is relatively new in fiction but it became increasingly popular with the feminist movement's successes in female empowerment, gradually pushing the stereotype of a "damsel in distress" to the background. and her companion. The names were never meant to be permanent, however. But astronomers took a long time to decide what to call the objects officially, and the popular names began to stick. Astronomer Mike Brown, who discovered both objects in 2005, gave them their temporary names and their new names. He thinks Eris is a fitting name for the new dwarf planet because astronomers have argued for so long over how to define a planet. With Pluto's demotion de·mote tr.v. de·mot·ed, de·mot·ing, de·motes To reduce in grade, rank, or status. [de- + (pro)mote. , there are now four known dwarf planets in the solar system: Pluto, Pluto's moon Charon, asteroid Ceres, and Eris. Eris is the largest of these objects. But the debate continues. Some scientists are now saying that Pluto should regain its status as a planet. |
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