Alan Stern gives the IAU a piece of his mind
New Horizons’ principle investigator yesterday told the International Astronomical Union what he thinks of their definition of a planet:
“It’s bulls—,” he told Tech Insider (and said we could quote him on that).
The problem, Stern said, is that the reclassification largely stemmed from the opinions of astronomers, not planetary scientists. His beef here is that astronomers study a large variety of celestial objects and cosmic phenomena, while planetary scientists focus solely on planets, moons, and planetary systems.
“Why would you listen to an astronomer about a planet?” Stern said. He compared it to going to a podiatrist for brain surgery instead of a brain surgeon. “Even though they’re both doctors, they have different expertise,” Stern said. “You really should listen to planetary scientists that know something about this subject. When we look at an object like Pluto, we don’t know what else to call it.”
Stern’s opinion is not unique among planetary scientists. I have interviewed many, and read reports by others, which consistently say that they object strongly to the IAU’s definition. To them, if a object has enough mass to force it into a sphercial shape, it is a planet.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
New Horizons’ principle investigator yesterday told the International Astronomical Union what he thinks of their definition of a planet:
“It’s bulls—,” he told Tech Insider (and said we could quote him on that).
The problem, Stern said, is that the reclassification largely stemmed from the opinions of astronomers, not planetary scientists. His beef here is that astronomers study a large variety of celestial objects and cosmic phenomena, while planetary scientists focus solely on planets, moons, and planetary systems.
“Why would you listen to an astronomer about a planet?” Stern said. He compared it to going to a podiatrist for brain surgery instead of a brain surgeon. “Even though they’re both doctors, they have different expertise,” Stern said. “You really should listen to planetary scientists that know something about this subject. When we look at an object like Pluto, we don’t know what else to call it.”
Stern’s opinion is not unique among planetary scientists. I have interviewed many, and read reports by others, which consistently say that they object strongly to the IAU’s definition. To them, if a object has enough mass to force it into a sphercial shape, it is a planet.
On Christmas Eve 1968 three Americans became the first humans to visit another world. What they did to celebrate was unexpected and profound, and will be remembered throughout all human history. Genesis: the Story of Apollo 8, Robert Zimmerman's classic history of humanity's first journey to another world, tells that story, and it is now available as both an ebook and an audiobook, both with a foreword by Valerie Anders and a new introduction by Robert Zimmerman.
The ebook is available everywhere for $5.99 (before discount) at amazon, or direct from my ebook publisher, ebookit. If you buy it from ebookit you don't support the big tech companies and the author gets a bigger cut much sooner.
The audiobook is also available at all these vendors, and is also free with a 30-day trial membership to Audible.
"Not simply about one mission, [Genesis] is also the history of America's quest for the moon... Zimmerman has done a masterful job of tying disparate events together into a solid account of one of America's greatest human triumphs."--San Antonio Express-News
Planet Pluto. Period.
Neil ‘coup’ Degrasse Tyson will not be happy with your opinion. That arrogant ass said he didn’t care if the IAU classified Pluto as a planet. He wouldn’t recognize it because Pluto is a Kuiper Belt object. It’s difficult to do proper work when Hollywood scientists stick their know it all attitude on television.
Tyson’s existence and success, poor scientist as he is, speaks more badly of today’s society than it does of him. He is the person our media and public has decided to anoint as their representative of science. Worse, even after he is exposed as having done faulty work, falsifying quotes and facts, he continues to be supported and touted.
I find it somewhat bothersome that we as collective conciosness continue to fight and squabble over such mundane and what I call needless bullying.. I just think mankind could be putting it’s energies into something better than trashing on Neil regardless of any opinion.. I’m actually surprised that everyone’s not talking about the Kardashian empire or why Bruce’s transgender? I mean really people can we please get it together here. A higher state of conciosness is within our grasp please let’s work together for a main purpose and way of life that doesn’t have to do with mass marketing starvation and viagra mixed with depression and nicotine? Let us learn to become the amazingly beautiful lifeforce we deserve to be. #GLOBALPEACEoneLove
So I guess to you, telling the truth and getting the facts right doesn’t matter. Tyson is your hero, and he can do whatever he wants, no matter how egregious, and you will support him blindly.
This doesn’t seem to me to a very good basis for a just society. Blind loyalty to bad behavior will only encourage bad leaders who will do bad things. You might want to think about this a bit.