Although the IAU conference in Prague is still continuing until the 25th, I thought it was worth noting that some has proposed a promising draft of the definitions of a planet that would make Pluto just one of several planets known as Plutons.

Under the proposals, the Solar System would consist of 12 planets, eight classical planets and 4 plutons. Under the new proposals the new planets of the Solar would also include the asteroid Ceres and Pluto’s current ‘moon’ Charon. Pluto and Charon would be classified as a double planet and objects such as Sedna and the item discovered last year (dubbed Xena by some).

This will need to be agreed by the IAu but looks as promising as anything so far. I am excited that we may ‘gain’ new planets but this is really going to mess up my pnemonic. Lets see: MVEMCJSUNPCXS… oh dear…