'Ammonite' -- The Latest 'Dwarf Planet' Distraction.

Click to ENLARGE. My Book. Link to 'LiveScience' post.

I have earned the RIGHT to bitch & moan about 'Dwarf Planets'. Way back in 2011, I wrote the first (& I think even to-date only) book about them.

Since then, to my chagrin (but of late growing amusements) Dwarf Planets have become a JOKE.

Between 2006 & 2008, in unbecoming haste, the 'International Astronomical Association' (AIU) established 5 dwarfs (see image) -- per the criteria they voted upon.

That was 17 years ago.

Since then the IAU has vacillated & even BACKTRACKED!

They changed their mind on the 5 they said were DWARFs.

Now they are among a LONG LIST of POSSIBLE Dwarf Planet candidates!

It has become a joke.

Ammonite, the latest candidate, is no more qualified than any of the others -- especially MY FAVORITE 'Sedna' with its 11,390 year orbital period.

There is a LOT of stuff -- billions & billions -- in the Solar System we have really no idea about.

Once we get past Saturn it is a crap shoot.

So many UNKNOWNS.

Of late we keep on finding more & more INTERESTING objects.

We still haven't come up with a methodology to sort out what is what.

So, let's NOT get too excited about Ammonite.

As far as I am concerned, it is just another candidate -- & to I, not as exciting as MY Sedna.

😇