2,500 Astronomers gather to define what, exactly, is a planet

[thewayne]

The problem is (a) that Pluto's status whether or not it's a planet has been argued since it was discovered 75 years ago, and now some fool has to re-open the whole can of worms with renewed vigor by discovering a "planet" bigger than Pluto but much further out in our solar system in the Kuiper Belt.

Right now, there have been three planets discovered beyond Pluto: Sedna, Quahuar(?), and this Kuiper object, Xena. No word yet on Hercules.

http://www.wired.com/news/technology/space/0,71589-0.html