Please don't say 'Mickey'
It looks like only a matter of time before Pluto isn't the solar system's most distant planet anymore, thanks to far-off 2003 UB313, the discovery of which was announced last summer. Humiliatingly for Charon's best friend, German scientists have confirmed that the alphanumeric orb is "decidedly larger" than Pluto, which should ease the icy rock's road to planethood.
So why doesn't our newest planetary pal have a proper name yet? Because the international body that decides what is or isn't a planet hasn't weighed in on the matter yet, meaning 2003 UB313 will remain saddled with its clunky moniker unless and until it gets a favorable verdict. Allow co-discoverer Mike Brown, an Alabama native, to explain: "It can't get an official name until it has an official status and right now it doesn't have an official status, so it can't get a name."
Well, maybe not officially. But that won't stop me from soliciting proposed names in the comments. Go to town.
So why doesn't our newest planetary pal have a proper name yet? Because the international body that decides what is or isn't a planet hasn't weighed in on the matter yet, meaning 2003 UB313 will remain saddled with its clunky moniker unless and until it gets a favorable verdict. Allow co-discoverer Mike Brown, an Alabama native, to explain: "It can't get an official name until it has an official status and right now it doesn't have an official status, so it can't get a name."
Well, maybe not officially. But that won't stop me from soliciting proposed names in the comments. Go to town.
posted by Alabamian at 4:40 PM
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