Name Pluto's Moons P4 and P5
Here’s Your Chance to Name Two of Pluto’s Moons, SpaceRef
“It was seven months ago that Mark Showalter and a team of researchers at the SETI Institute discovered two new moon around Pluto. Named P4 and P5 the astronomers decided that the formal names should be open to public selection through a contest.”
This time of the year we spend time reflecting on the loss of shuttles Columbia and Challenger. Naming the new moons after the loos shuttles and thus the crews would be a fitting tribute.
These celestial bodies are, to my knowledge, not (yet) property of the United States of America. Name your new Orion capsules after Columbia or Challenger, not these moons of the dwarf planet that way too many people already think is named after a cartoon dog.
FYI, the naming of planets etc. are the mandate of the International Astronomical Union which is based in France but it an international organization. The U.S. is not naming these moons.
I hope the IAU crowd will recall all of the stink surrounding the demotion of Pluto itself from planethood and be a little more sociable this time around. They have the final say, and they have traditions of their own, but we’re scratching our heads trying to figure out ways to get the general public more interested and more involved and the IAU often comes across as high and mighty, which is a turn-off.
I think the contest is a good idea. I hope the IAU agrees.
I’m well aware of the IAU’s role; apparently, watchpuppy is not.
Marc,
The last time I visited the SETI website, NASA had a lot of funding involved, more funding from US companies, and they are located in CA. Lets not forget what Hubble has done, also funded by NASA.
watchpuppy, you’re not going to get anywhere with this idea. And America cannot claim what belongs to everyone and yet no one. I suggest you quit while you’re behind.
How about Dwarf and Planet?
Mike,
Is that schoolgirl still living? That would unfortunately disqualify her according the the rules.
People who discover things should get to name them.
The IAU lost all credibility by voting in a definition of a planet that doesn’t generalize to other solar systems. The whole way the IAU is run is broken.
Jumong (he came from the sky and created Korean country)
Hwanung (he came from the sky and is son of a god in Korea)