Kuiper Object Discoveries Formally Announced

ewhac writes "The San Francisco Chronicle is reporting that the new Trans-Neptunian objects mentioned in the press earlier this year are being formally announced this week at a planetary conference in Cambridge, England. Bearing the extremely temporary names 'Xena,' 'Santa,' and 'Easterbunny,' the new objects are quite interesting in their own right (Santa is cigar-shaped, rotates end-over-end every four hours, and has a 60-mile-diameter moon). However, even more interesting is the intrigue behind the press conferences revealing Xena earlier this year. It seems that, using the astronomers' own observation logs (publicly available over the Web) and some key details inadvertently revealed in earlier announcements, someone was planning on 'discovering' the objects first and claiming credit. This was why the scientists 'pre-announced' the existence of Xena back in July, to establish priority. The conference in Cambridge represents the first formal, scientific disclosure of the objects."

Re:Mod this down

[deglr6328]

Thing is, Newtonian mechanics aren't the ONLY rules they follow. They also follow the rules of chemistry, solid state physics and thermodynamics. And it is these things (and others) which appear to have the potential to lead to some very [caltech.edu] very [space.com] weird things indeed. That's why people think these things are exciting.

Re:Science is great

[MoralHazard]

Are they rich in any materials that we may find useful to harvest in the future? If so, how can we get up there and bring those materials back?

These objects are in the Kuiper Belt... They are BEYOND THE ORBIT OF NEPTUNE.

I submit to you that there are no materials valuable enough to justify the energy required to move that much mass to the inner solar system, in any reasonable amount of time. For Christ's sake, we're barely at the point where we can get to Mars and back, let along move any significant amount of mass around.

Re:Science is great

[smashin234]

"I submit to you that there are no materials valuable enough to justify the energy required to move that much mass to the inner solar system, in any reasonable amount of time."

I believe you are making a point that is true today, but 10, 15,100 years from now, who knows? With better technology, you just can't tell.

Mining is all about return vs. investment, and with as much as some things increase in price you can not really predict when it will become profitable to mine something even that far out.

Its especially premature to knock the idea when we are unsure what the composition of these objects is. We still discover valuable resources here on Earth that we had no clue about....

Temporary names? Yeah right.

[dtfinch]

In 100 years, they'll still be known as Xena, Santa, and the Easter Bunny.

Re:Cigar Shaped?

[Anonymous Coward]

I would so love it if someone would name this one "Freud".

Hey, sometimes a Kuiper Belt Object is just a Kuiper Belt Object.

But a good Kuiper Belt Object is a Pluto.

Re:Science is great

[Herschel Cohen]

RE: "that is true today, but 10, 15,100 years from now ..."

When a significant majority in one of the advanced space faring states believes the earth is no older than 7,000 years. where do you expect the financing of the basic science necessary to even contemplate the tasks you outline? Scientific reasoning and knowledge is being devalued continuously for more faith based "logic". Moreover, for the immediate future those following the latter, easier path will live the more comfortable life.

So give me one observable trend that might support your overly optimistic view? The Chinese and their will to awe the world with feats in space and the military? Unlikely, in an oppressive society where the elite holds power tenuously most of their efforts are very short term (more like five year plans). Their accomplishments may be more mass killings or their fading away, at best.

RE: "all about return vs. investment ..."

Would it not be wiser (and in some areas the trend) to do more with less? The throw away societies we have will burn out their energy supplies long before they are able to go elsewhere and do it again only bigger (and better?).

RE: "Its especially premature to knock the idea ..." Sorry, not when so little real thought or knowledge lies behind the blabber. Look at one of the responses just below your message. That person at least knows what s/he is talking about.