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Re: Orbital Elements for the 12th Planet


Article: <5ejdmf$740@sjx-ixn5.ix.netcom.com>
From: saquo@ix.netcom.com(Nancy )
Subject: Re: Orbital Elements for the 12th Planet
Date: 21 Feb 1997 06:00:47 GMT

In article <330CBD04.3E50@sc.hp.com> Chris Franks writes:
>> And what you're proposing is imposing the behavior of
>> non-traveling planets in your Solar System onto this
>> traveling planet, the 12th Planet.
>> (End ZetaTalk[TM])
>
> Nancy, the word "planet" is Defined by humans to mean a
> large spherical mass that is orbiting around its sun. ... If the
> "12th Planet" does not orbit our sun in an ellipse, then you
> cannot properly call it a planet. Call it a non-gravitationally
> -bound mass; call it a mxtyplyk or some other name that
> not already taken, but it is too late to call it a Solar Planet
> unless it orbits our Sol.
> Chris Franks <cfranks@sc.hp.com>

Traveling Planet. That's perfect. It IS a planet as it orbits the Sun, just not in the manner you're used to. Non-gravitationally bound mass would be erroneous. It's gravitationally bound, just as the Earth is, to more than one foci!