SCIENCE! and stuff

That space trivia guy has WAY too much time on his hands.

If you think he has time to burn, Dr. Bruce Betts works full time with the Planetary Society, teaches at colleges and universities on the side, and plays D&D with his kids. That's what he does in his spare time.

Neat! Take a very close look and tell me what you see. This is really quite the amazing photograph.

Neat! Take a very close look and tell me what you see. This is really quite the amazing photograph.

Is it the ISS shot in front of the moon?

Oh man. The New Horizon's mission is so close. Nine billion miles down. Only a million left to go for an encounter with the last former planet of the Solar System. This July will be the month.

The Son of Dior wrote:Is it the ISS shot in front of the moon?

Yes it is. From what I remember of the article the dude had to wait a year for the alignment, and then had 1/3 second to take the photo.

The Son of Dior wrote:...a million left to go for an encounter with the last former planet of the Solar System....

Emphasis mine. Where are you in this on-going debate?

Here's a fun diagram:

Where are you in this on-going debate?

I think I have to side with the scientific community on this one. Pluto was discovered at a time when telescope technology barely reached the edge of the Solar System. In recent decades when the ability to see in that section of space improved, we discovered the Kaiper Belt and all of the planetoids (roughly the size of Pluto or larger) that are a part of it. Had scientists discovered this fact all those years ago, I doubt that Pluto would have enjoyed the status it did until it was downgraded a few years ago. I don't think it was a bad call or an attempt to step on anyone's feelings. It was merely science following the steady beat it always does when time and discovery broaden our understanding.

And there he is...