Comments on: Smallest spherical planet so far found https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/smallest-spherical-planet-so-far-found/ Thu, 31 Oct 2019 05:03:56 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 By: pzatchok https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/smallest-spherical-planet-so-far-found/#comment-1072390 Thu, 31 Oct 2019 05:03:56 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=61749#comment-1072390 Call something a moon if it orbits a planet.

Should be

Call something a moon if it is a planetoid and it orbits a planet.

]]> By: pzatchok https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/smallest-spherical-planet-so-far-found/#comment-1072389 Thu, 31 Oct 2019 05:02:24 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=61749#comment-1072389 Looks a little like the Death Star.

Everything round is a planetoid.

Call something a sun if it gives off detectable light.

Call something a planet if it is a planetoid and it orbits a sun.

Call something a moon if it orbits a planet.

Other objects can have names like asteroids or comets or pretty much anything you like.

]]> By: Robert Zimmerman https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/smallest-spherical-planet-so-far-found/#comment-1072345 Wed, 30 Oct 2019 05:46:35 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=61749#comment-1072345 In reply to Chris.

Chris: I am well aware of the IAU’s definition. I also know that it makes no sense, and is worthless. And all my comments are reinforced by what planetary scientists have told me.

]]> By: Chris https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/smallest-spherical-planet-so-far-found/#comment-1072342 Wed, 30 Oct 2019 04:11:53 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=61749#comment-1072342 Hi Bob

This article
https://newatlas.com/space/large-asteroid-hygiea-dwarf-planet/
Mentioned the IAU requirements for planet and dwarf planet

For both
Orbit the sun
Large enough to have coalesced into a spherical shape
Not a moon

To be a planet and not a dwarf planet
Cleared its orbit of debris

]]> By: Col Beausabre https://behindtheblack.com/behind-the-black/points-of-information/smallest-spherical-planet-so-far-found/#comment-1072333 Tue, 29 Oct 2019 23:16:12 +0000 https://behindtheblack.com/?p=61749#comment-1072333 From the looks of things, it must be close to the point where there isn’t enough mass to cause enough gravity to result in a spherical object. Perhaps when we determine that we will know the lower limit of a “planet”

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