Stories
Slash Boxes
Comments

News for nerds, stuff that matters

Slashdot Log In

Log In

Create Account  |  Retrieve Password

"Xena" To Be Named Eris

Posted by kdawson on Thu Sep 14, 2006 07:30 AM
from the all-hail-discorida dept.
rdwald writes, "After over a year of hanging in maybe-planet limbo, newly-classified 2003 UB313, nicknamed Xena, now has a permanent name: Eris, goddess of strife. Its moon will be named Dysnomia, after the goddess of lawlessness — in Greek mythology, Eris's daughter — certainly not a reference there... I don't think I'm alone when I say, 'Hail Eris! All hail Discordia!'" In the same IAU announcement (PDF), Pluto was given its official minor planet number: 134340.
+ -
story

Related Stories

[+] IAU Demotes Pluto to 'Dwarf Planet' Status 424 comments
davidwr writes "It's official. Pluto's been demoted. It's now one of several 'dwarf planets.' I guess we can drop the 'Period' from 'Mary's violet eyes make John stay up nights.'" (Of course, no one says you have to privately agree with the International Astronomical Union.) Several readers have contributed links to the BBC's coverage of the downgrade, as well as the usefully illustrated story at MSNBC.
[+] Pluto Decision Meets with Frustration 464 comments
fuzzybunny writes "The BBC reports that the IAU's controversial Prague vote on demoting Pluto from planet status was irregular. 'There were 2,700 astronomers in Prague during that 10-day period. But only 10% of them voted this afternoon.'" On a less serious note, lx writes "Nonplussed by Pluto's recent downgrade from Planet Status, Fox News's own John Gibson does an incredible Stephen Colbert impersonation to correct the 'revisionist history' of the IAU's decision. Exemplifying 'truthiness,' from the article: 'Long ago I learned it was a planet and I see no reason to unlearn it. Why should I?' "
[+] Pluto Making a Comeback 439 comments
anthemaniac writes "Space.com reports that the American Astronomical Unions Division of Planetary Scientists recognizes the IAU's authority to make a new planet defintion but expects it to be altered. Separately, 300 astronomers have signed a petition saying they won't use the definition. All this stems from the discontent over how only 424 astronomers voted on the proposal that demoted Pluto. Looks like this little dog is on the comeback trail."
This discussion has been archived. No new comments can be posted.
The Fine Print: The following comments are owned by whoever posted them. We are not responsible for them in any way.
 Full
 Abbreviated
 Hidden
More
Loading... please wait.
  • by MichaelSmith (789609) on Thursday September 14 2006, @07:34AM (#16103202) Homepage Journal

    You cant use that popular name. We will give it our own name so that you know that its ours, not yours.

    Or something like that. My copy is upstairs and I can't be bothered to check.

    • You cant use that popular name. We will give it our own name so that you know that its ours, not yours.

      Who says the goddesses Eris and Dysnomia weren't popular in ancient times? I'm sure the goddesses of strife and lawlessness were widely worshipped by ancient Greek and Roman hooligans, rioters, lynch-mobs and criminals in general.
      • by crawling_chaos (23007) on Thursday September 14 2006, @09:01AM (#16103996) Homepage
        I'm sure the goddesses of strife and lawlessness were widely worshipped by ancient Greek and Roman hooligans, rioters, lynch-mobs and criminals in general.

        We'd have to trace both the Bush and Kennedy family trees back that far to be sure though.

  • Sounds more like a "film noir" or an old german submarine. Eris? It'll immediately be confused with Eros. UB313! UB313! UB313!

  • by Bob_Villa (926342) on Thursday September 14 2006, @07:35AM (#16103211)
    She was a great 'warrior' in her own right, I loved watching her show.
    Especially those outfits, that was one of the best parts. I can never get my wife to wear things like that.

    You will be missed, Xena.
    • Re: (Score:2, Funny)

      by Anonymous Coward
      Because naming a planet Xena was too difficult - it would have been much easier for the scientists involved to simply tattoo the word "loser" to their foreheads.
    • Re:Why not Xena? (Score:5, Informative)

      by Anonymous Coward on Thursday September 14 2006, @08:05AM (#16103433)
      Get the connection???

      Xena -> Lucy Lawless -> Goddess of Lawlessness
      • Re: (Score:2, Funny)

        by Anonymous Coward
        GOLLY, I totally didn't get that from the obvious wording of sarcasm indicating there was a connection. Thanks! If you hadn't pointed that out, I'm sure nobody else would have gotten it! (Note: Please don't point out the sarcasm in this post. I prefer when people who can't detect sarcasm don't get it pointed out to them. They'll never be the wiser! Wait, you mean they can read this aside too? Sonufa...)
    • ....Astronomy needs class to get funding.
    • Eris / Dischord is pretty cute too.

      http://xenaphan.com/Discord.jpg [xenaphan.com]

      Good luck making your wife a hot evil midget, though.
    • Maybe it was just Xenophobia why they chose another name.
  • by Tillmann (859300) on Thursday September 14 2006, @07:40AM (#16103254)
    Hi,

    sweet! First planet named after an IRC network!
    Long live EFnet!

    bye,
    Till
  • by asifyoucare (302582) on Thursday September 14 2006, @07:44AM (#16103283)
    Eris the half-a-planet.
  • That's no moon... (Score:3, Informative)

    by Mr. Slippery (47854) <tms AT infamous DOT net> on Thursday September 14 2006, @07:45AM (#16103289) Homepage

    ...it's a giant golden apple!

    Kallisti!

    • Let me be the first Discordo-Fascist to declare neverending war on the IAU for downgrading our Godesses Planet to a mere Dwarf Planet - though I might relent if they arrange to have it painted gold.

      Though I do give them credit for issuing this on 14 Sept as they no doubt know that Sept 13 does not exist.

      Boomtime, Bureaucracy 38, Year of Our Lady of Discord 3172
       
    • What? Stop bugging me! fnord
  • Does Hagbard know about this? Well, I guess Gold & Appel Transfers will be getting into the space-race too.
  • Hail Eris :) (Score:4, Informative)

    by kyknos.org (643709) on Thursday September 14 2006, @07:53AM (#16103336) Homepage
    I will run my ddate programm to celebrate it :)

    Today is Boomtime, the 38th day of Bureaucracy in the YOLD 3172
  • Hail Eris (Score:5, Funny)

    by PakProtector (115173) <cevkiv&gmail,com> on Thursday September 14 2006, @07:58AM (#16103384) Journal

    Hail Eris, full of Taste, the IAU is with thee.
    Funky art thou among Goddesses, and Blessed is the Golden Apple of thy planet, Eris.
    Holy Eris, She who Dunnit, pray for all us humans now, and in the lifetime of our confusion.
    Fnord.

    • This made me laugh out loud. Gonna be posted to my office wall for all eternity, or duration of my employment here, whichever is longer. Excuse me whilst I go partake of a hot dog.
  • by miro f (944325) on Thursday September 14 2006, @08:02AM (#16103405)
    given the strife and discord its discovery created within the land of astronomers
  • by Nick Gisburne (681796) on Thursday September 14 2006, @08:07AM (#16103449) Homepage
    I suspect that the astronomer who wanted Xena and Gabrielle to be the names of the planet and its companion has still got his Xenaphile way - Strife and Discord were two very prominent characters in many of the Xena episodes. Usually associated with Ares, the God of War who of course already has his own planet, Mars (the Roman version). The trio is united!
  • 134340 (Score:3, Funny)

    by the_other_one (178565) on Thursday September 14 2006, @08:12AM (#16103490) Homepage
    I am not a number. I am a free planet!
  • Eris has her own planet now. Her ego's going to inflate so much that Mandy might finally meet her match.
  • Objection! (Score:4, Insightful)

    by transami (202700) on Thursday September 14 2006, @08:21AM (#16103582) Homepage
    These are Greek names, not Roman!

    Moreover, the person who discovered them should have every right to name them wahtever he/she wants. Elitism is unacceptable.
    • Re: (Score:3, Informative)

      Discordia is the Latin counterpart for the Greek Eris.

      Dysnomia is Greek, but I've forgotten the name of the Latin counterpart.

  • so now... (Score:5, Funny)

    by Nicaboker (978150) on Thursday September 14 2006, @08:29AM (#16103673)
    Dear Earth,

          Pleas do not take this letter as me being bitter but I must say I am rather upset. I have been there with you during the good times and the bad. I know I am smaller than most other planets, but I never thought you would reject me for it. We've been friends for so many years and now you no longer wish to call me a Planet. Just know that when the astroid comes flying towards you I wont be there to try and stop it anymore. I guess what I'm trying to say is... SCREW YOU!!

    Pluto

    P.S. Eris, you suck too
  • She Who Done It All.
  • Hail Eris full of grace, holy queen of outer space!
  • by elrous0 (869638) * on Thursday September 14 2006, @08:39AM (#16103776)
    Eris, goddess of strife. Its moon will be named Dysnomia, after the goddess of lawlessness

    Why did the image of Iraq suddenly flash through my head as I read this?

    -Eric

  • by LargeWu (766266) on Thursday September 14 2006, @08:56AM (#16103956)
    How appropriate. The Law of Fives states that all things happen in fives, or multiples of five, or are somehow directly or indirectly related to the number five.

    If you add up the digits in the name (2003 UB313, u=21 and b = 2), it adds up to 32, and then if you add up those digits in 32, 3 + 2 = 5. Also, there are 5 non-zero digits in the name of the planet.

    Hail Eris! All Hail Discordia!
  • My very educated mother just showed us nine ... hmmm... [reference.com]

    Couldn't they have at least chosen something with a P since they've demoted Pluto?
    • Pluto is still Pluto.

      Just because it has a number doesn't make the name go away. Let's see... I like the "Jelly Sandwich":

      Mother Very Thoughtfully Makes A Jelly Sandwich Using No Persimmons... Everyday.

      (Earnestly if you don't care for 'Terra')

      (Jelly Sandwiches instead of A Jelly Standwich to keep the Asteroids out)
  • Duck and cover!
    Better start looking out for Damocles [wikipedia.org]!

    Well, if you lived on Eris anyway...
  • ...British English...

    So, when we find a stable wormhole nest to Eris - will it be called the Erishole?

    Was Pluto not enough, was there a problem with Uranus too? Did you astronomers feel that perhaps there were not enough double entendres already that you had to add potentially many, many more by using Eris?

    Sigh, I thnk we should really consider not allowing astronomers to name things anymore. Eris - arse... seriously people!!!
  • lawless (Score:2, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward
    obviously Xena is the goddess of lucy lawlessness
  • It's too soon for a planet named Xena. You've got to give it about 1000 years, when the lens of history has changed the common understanding of Xena from "television warrior bimbo" to "goddess of war worshipped at the start of the last millenium."
  • by giblfiz (125533) on Thursday September 14 2006, @09:57AM (#16104523)
    Its good to know that we Discordians [cmu.edu] have the pull in the scientific community that one would exspect us to.


    ON PRAYER
    Mal-2 was once asked by one of his Disciples if he often prayed to Eris. He replied with these words:

    No, we Erisians seldom pray, it is much too dangerous. Charles Fort has listed many factual incidences of ignorant people confronted with, say, a drought, and then praying fervently -- and then getting the entire village wiped out in a torrential flood.

            "Of course I'm crazy, but that doesn't mean I'm wrong. I'm mad but not ill"
     
    • Re:You are alone (Score:5, Insightful)

      by Shaper_pmp (825142) on Thursday September 14 2006, @08:03AM (#16103418)
      Indeed, Kierthos.

      There are plenty of Discordians around, especially on Slashdot. It's just that whenever someone instructs a Discordian to "all hail Eris", most Discordian's first instincts are to do the opposite. Kind of goes with the territory.

      Happily, there are also those like Kierthos, who even rebel against the disorder prevalent in Discordianism[1].

      All Hail Discordia!

      (Hah!)
    • Did someone on slashdot just call someone else a nerd as an insult? Uhh...*points to that little blurb next to title*