Can We Call Pluto and Charon a 'Binary Planet' Yet? 115
astroengine writes The debate as to whether Pluto is a planet or a dwarf planet rumbles on, but in a new animation of the small world, one can't help but imagine another definition for Pluto. As NASA's New Horizons spacecraft continues its epic journey into the outer solar system, its Kuiper Belt target is becoming brighter and more defined. Seen through the mission's Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI) camera, this new set of observations clearly shows Pluto and its biggest moon Charon locked in a tight orbital dance separated by only 11,200 miles. (Compared with the Earth-moon orbital separation of around 240,000 miles, you can see how compact the Pluto-Charon system really is.) Both bodies are shown to be orbiting a common point — the "barycenter" is located well above Pluto's surface prompting a new debate on whether or not Pluto and Charon should be redefined as a "binary planet".
Admit it. (Score:4, Funny)
You're just trying to troll Neil Tyson for the hilarity that ensues.
Outrageous discrimination! (Score:5, Funny)
What's with this "dwarf" nonsense — and big planetarism [slashdot.org]? We demand equal gravity for all planets [thepeoplescube.com]!
Re:OOOps! (Score:2, Funny)
Among the moons of Pluto are... wait, I'll come in again.