WTF? Pluto has FOUR Moons!

Discussion in 'Techforge' started by Tuckerfan, Jul 21, 2011.

  1. Dayton Kitchens

    Dayton Kitchens Banned

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    Technically yes.

    A double planetary system now orbited by three moons.
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  2. Lanzman

    Lanzman Vast, Cool and Unsympathetic Formerly Important

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    Ummm . . . you are aware that the Earth and Moon also orbit a common center of gravity, yes? In that case, the center is actually inside of the Earth, but the principal is the same.
  3. AlphaMan

    AlphaMan The Last Dragon

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    Yes... But Pluto and Charon's point with which they orbit is in mid space. I think that's an interesting distinction.
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  4. Dayton Kitchens

    Dayton Kitchens Banned

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    If the common center of gravity is inside the Earth, then technically the Earth doesn't "orbit" the center of gravity because a portion of the Earth is always on the other side of the center of gravity at one time or the other.
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  5. Asyncritus

    Asyncritus Expert on everything

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    But wouldn't that argue that Neptune isn't a planet?

  6. Asyncritus

    Asyncritus Expert on everything

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    If you go with that distinction, Jupiter is not a planet orbiting the sun, either.

    Think about that, before you decide there is something spectacular about the central point not being inside the major body.