iel ([info]nathanielperson) wrote,
@ 2006-08-16 16:44:00
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My Very Educated Mother Valiantly Juggles Copper Pots Jumping Sideways and Howling.
I don't know if anyone else has been following the shadowy machinations of the international astronomy cabal as they redefine the definition of "planet." But I have, and I'm glad, because it turns up delightful little tidbits like this. Or the fact that the first few asteroids to be discovered were originally considered planets, and that Uranus was originally named after its discoverer, which explains why "In 1828, a book called First Steps to Astronomy and Geography listed the planets as, “Eleven: Mercury, Venus, the Earth, Mars, Vesta, Juno, Ceres, Pallas, Jupiter, Saturn, and Herschel.”

Herschel.

How awesome can you get.


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[info]chris_gerrib
2006-08-17 01:54 am UTC (link)
I'll sign the petition to rename Uranus "Herschel" if you start it!

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[info]akicif
2006-08-17 09:51 am UTC (link)
Better that than "George's Star"....

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[info]insanitysraving
2006-08-17 03:07 am UTC (link)
from now on, I shall refer to Uranus as Herschel. You know, during one of the many times it comes up in casual conversation!

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[info]nathanielperson
2006-08-17 09:56 pm UTC (link)
I think this is the kind of thing that you steer casual conversation towards, just so you can say it.

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[info]insanitysraving
2006-08-18 04:30 pm UTC (link)
Conversation opener: Sooooo... what do you think of those PLANETS.

On the other hand, there's got to be something said for a planet name that makes EVERYONE who says it feel slightly uncomfortable and awkward. I bet even Uranusologists hesitate before pronouncing it!

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