COSMIC/SPACE NEWS:[Special Report]
LOS ANGELES, Aug. 2006 (Xinhua)-- The new planet definition passed by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) is "scientifically right" and is a great step forward, an astronomer who spotted a celestial body larger than Pluto said on Thursday.
Mike Brown, a professor of planetary science at the California Institute of Technology, should have become the discoverer of a new planet but for the IAU's new definition passed in Prague, Czech Republic earlier this day.
Brown announced last year the discovery of celestial body 2003UB313, also informally named "Xena." Somewhat larger than Pluto, the body should be qualified as the tenth planet of the solar system, Brown claimed at that time.
But now Brown said the new definition, which regulates that only eight planets revolve Sun and that Xena should be classified as "dwarf planet" as well as Pluto, is acceptable.
"I'm of course disappointed that Xena will not be the tenth planet, but I definitely support the IAU in this difficult and courageous decision," said Brown. "It is scientifically the right thing to do, and is a great step forward in astronomy."
Image Above: The International Astronomical Union (IAU) on Thursday adopted a resolution on planet definition, according to which Pluto had been stripped of the planetary status. (Xinhua Photo)
