ForumGarden

being a bit of a geek I subscribe to the newscientist newsletter - got this the other day... pretty exciting!

"NewScientistSpace.com - NEWSFLASH

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New world may be double Pluto's size

Astronomical detectives have made a stunning discovery. Hiding in

plain view, the object may be the biggest orbiting in the outer

solar system.

The find suggests more such worlds are waiting to be discovered and

is likely to reignite the fierce debate about what constitutes a

planet.



Click on the link below for the full story on NewScientistSpace.com:

http://www.newscientistspace.com/article/dn7751"

Apparently it's got a funny shaped orbit which is one of the reasons they haven't spotted it before. Makes you realise how little we know about even our own little corner of the universe....

I hear the theme from 'Aladin' playing in the background.



But why the debate about what constitutes a planet? I didn't see the justification in the article.

Hmm, good question, I don't know...

guess it's something to do with the size or density...?

any astronomers out there willing to shed some light?!

Here's the article from another site.........

Palomar found it!

Great observattory!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3511678.stm