Comments on: A Year of Cassini http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/31/a-year-of-cassini/ I am an astronomer, writer, and skeptic. I likes reality the way it is, and I aims to keep it that way. My real name is Phil Plait, and I run the Bad Astronomy blog. Tue, 24 Nov 2009 18:12:07 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Annie Morris http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/31/a-year-of-cassini/comment-page-1/#comment-144834 Annie Morris Fri, 02 Jan 2009 10:42:09 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/31/a-year-of-cassini/#comment-144834 What a totally mind-blowing picture. Another keeper! Thank you for posting it. Stunning. What a totally mind-blowing picture. Another keeper!

Thank you for posting it.

Stunning.

]]> By: Scott Smith http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/31/a-year-of-cassini/comment-page-1/#comment-144699 Scott Smith Thu, 01 Jan 2009 21:56:29 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/31/a-year-of-cassini/#comment-144699 I was being silly. The whole modern definition is so vague in areas it makes me wonder if anything could be a planet. And what about exo-planets? Yes I know that they are super Jupiters, but could it be they haven't cleared their orbits of junk? Again, I'm being silly mostly because I won't demote Pluto. ;-) I was being silly. The whole modern definition is so vague in areas it makes me wonder if anything could be a planet. And what about exo-planets? Yes I know that they are super Jupiters, but could it be they haven’t cleared their orbits of junk? Again, I’m being silly mostly because I won’t demote Pluto. ;-)

]]> By: MaDeR http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/31/a-year-of-cassini/comment-page-1/#comment-144624 MaDeR Thu, 01 Jan 2009 14:45:26 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/31/a-year-of-cassini/#comment-144624 "Does Saturn qualify as a planet since it hasn’t cleared its local area of debris as evidenced by the rings?" Yes, it qualifies. 1. "Clearning the orbit" does not means destroying every little speck of dust in solar system. "Pluto is planet" trolls often insinuate this, if not blatantly claims this. Liars. Well, they are trolls, what you expected? 2. Other, surviving bodies in patch on Saturn orbit are gravitationally controlled by Saturn. This is same reason that Jupiter Trojans will not unplanet Jupiter. Trojans, Saturn rings would not exists without parent bodies like Jupiter or Saturn. “Does Saturn qualify as a planet since it hasn’t cleared its local area of debris as evidenced by the rings?”
Yes, it qualifies.
1. “Clearning the orbit” does not means destroying every little speck of dust in solar system. “Pluto is planet” trolls often insinuate this, if not blatantly claims this. Liars. Well, they are trolls, what you expected?
2. Other, surviving bodies in patch on Saturn orbit are gravitationally controlled by Saturn. This is same reason that Jupiter Trojans will not unplanet Jupiter. Trojans, Saturn rings would not exists without parent bodies like Jupiter or Saturn.

]]> By: Scott Smith http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/31/a-year-of-cassini/comment-page-1/#comment-144556 Scott Smith Thu, 01 Jan 2009 05:40:11 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/31/a-year-of-cassini/#comment-144556 Does Saturn qualify as a planet since it hasn't cleared its local area of debris as evidenced by the rings? Such a shame, and such a beautiful celestial body to look at. too bad it isn't a bit closer. Happy New Year every one! Scott Does Saturn qualify as a planet since it hasn’t cleared its local area of debris as evidenced by the rings? Such a shame, and such a beautiful celestial body to look at. too bad it isn’t a bit closer.

Happy New Year every one!

Scott

]]> By: sdrDusty http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/31/a-year-of-cassini/comment-page-1/#comment-144416 sdrDusty Wed, 31 Dec 2008 18:12:11 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/31/a-year-of-cassini/#comment-144416 Dr. Porco is amazing. Can't help but note: from the CICLOPS page-- only woman on the Cassini Imaging Science Team. Dr. Porco is amazing. Can’t help but note: from the CICLOPS page– only woman on the Cassini Imaging Science Team.

]]> By: Laguna http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/31/a-year-of-cassini/comment-page-1/#comment-144410 Laguna Wed, 31 Dec 2008 17:43:05 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/31/a-year-of-cassini/#comment-144410 Everybody, have a happy new year! Everybody, have a happy new year!

]]> By: PsyberDave http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/31/a-year-of-cassini/comment-page-1/#comment-144407 PsyberDave Wed, 31 Dec 2008 17:35:30 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/12/31/a-year-of-cassini/#comment-144407 It's the new year somewhere on the globe right now. Happy New Year to those of you just west of the date line! It’s the new year somewhere on the globe right now. Happy New Year to those of you just west of the date line!

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