Tuesday, March 10, 2009

Saturn's G Ring Is Not a Moon

Is it just me or is the definition of "moon" entirely too loose while the definition of planet is rather too tight? I think anything that would not satisfy the IAU definition of a "planet" save for orbiting another planet instead of a star should be a moon, thing that don't and are too large are "dwarf moons" and little chunks of rock that would otherwise be called asteroids are just "minor" or "natural satellites". Personally I wouldn't also require the stupid "cleared its orbit" criterion, but what is good for the goose is good for the gander. The latest rock found hiding in the rings of Saturn is no more a moon than one of the Trojan asteroids is a planet.

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