Morning News
and more from the Philadelphia Inquirer.



The Inquirer
• Home page
• Front page
• Local • U.S. & world
• Sports • Business
• Arts / Lifestyles
• Weekend • Q&As



philly.com
• Breaking news all day
• Blogs & podcasts


What Is Early Word?
The Philadelphia Inquirer's experimental online "morning show", which began in Sept. 2005, went on hiatus in the summer of 2006, after a gradual shift to putting more of its content directly on Philly.com.



About the Host
Peter Mucha, husband and father of two, grew up in Cherry Hill and is a lifelong Philly sports fan. He's been writing and editing for The Inquirer for 18 years. His motto (at least for today): "If I'm not brief, give me grief."

View Blogger profile.

Tip on posting comments: After you click a comment link, select "other" or "anonymous" in the pop-up box. That way, you won't be asked for a password.





Early Word logo
The Inquirer's ever-evolving way to start your day. Email. Phone: 215-854-2388.

Wednesday, January 18, 2006

The Outermost Planet is Not Pluto
As NASA tries again today to launch a probe to that distant world, you'll see and hear reports that say things like "the solar system's last unexplored planet."

Sorry, but what we learned in elementary school is no longer true. In 2003, astronomers found another icy world that's bigger than Pluto and even farther from the sun. So either there's at least one more unexplored planet, or neither should be called a planet at all, as some astronomers contend.

The official name hasn't been chosen yet for 2003 UB313, as it's technically designated.
You may heard it called Xena, a nickname mentioned by its discoverers with a wink to the warrior princess of TV fame. But the co-discoverers have submitted another name, as Mike Brown's Web page makes clear. d. Because almost all the names of Greek and Roman gods have been taken by planets and asteroids, the undisclosed proposed name harkens to another tradition.

By the way, last fall, the Hubble telescope discovered two more moons that orbit Pluto -- as well as one that orbits UB313.

This afternoon's launch window is 1:15 to 3:15. You can watch at NASA's Web site.


Go to: Early Word = Philadelphia Inquirer = philly.com = Lighter Side

Most Recent Posts
• Alas, It's Not Maria Bello's NightNorristown-raise...

•  A diagram explaining "naked triples." Confessions...

• A candid coach!Way to go, Mo. Maurice Cheeks said ...

• 2 young Eagles fans win Punt, Pass & Kick titlesCh...

• Reid-McNabb Better Than Dungy-ManningYeah, there a...

• Well PutSunday's cartoon by Tony AuthBy the way, I...

• Color Me a Skeptic About Indigo KidsSee the story ...

• Talk About It ...How About a New Name for Politici...

•  Eagles Only 9th on Misery Index?This was the most...

• Pilot Light As we waited for our long-delayed flig...




 Early Word Archives

   •  September 11, 2005
   •  September 18, 2005
   •  September 25, 2005
   •  October 02, 2005
   •  October 09, 2005
   •  October 16, 2005
   •  October 23, 2005
   •  October 30, 2005
   •  November 06, 2005
   •  November 13, 2005
   •  November 20, 2005
   •  November 27, 2005
   •  December 04, 2005
   •  December 11, 2005
   •  December 18, 2005
   •  January 01, 2006
   •  January 08, 2006
   •  January 15, 2006
   •  January 22, 2006
   •  January 29, 2006
   •  February 05, 2006
   •  February 12, 2006
   •  February 19, 2006
   •  February 26, 2006
   •  March 05, 2006
   •  March 12, 2006
   •  March 19, 2006
   •  March 26, 2006
   •  April 02, 2006
   •  April 09, 2006
   •  April 16, 2006
   •  April 23, 2006
   •  April 30, 2006
   •  May 07, 2006
   •  May 14, 2006
   •  May 21, 2006
   •  May 28, 2006
   •  June 04, 2006
   •  June 11, 2006
   •  June 18, 2006
   •  June 25, 2006
   •  July 02, 2006
   •  July 09, 2006
   •  July 16, 2006
   •  July 30, 2006
   •  August 06, 2006
   •  August 13, 2006
   •  August 27, 2006
   •  September 03, 2006
   •  September 10, 2006
   •  September 17, 2006
   •  December 31, 2006
   •  April 29, 2012


Philadelphia
Sports Links

General philly.com sportsInquirer, Daily News columnists610WIPWPENComcast SportsNetNBC10CBS36ABC
Football philly.com footballPhiladelphia EaglesSoul
Basketball philly.com basketballSixers
Ice Hockey philly.com hockeyFlyersPhantoms
Baseball philly.com baseballPhilliesCamden River SharksWilmington Blue RocksReading PhilliesTrenton ThunderAtlantic City SurfScranton-Wilkes Barre Red Barons
More Sports philly.com golfphilly.com collegesphilly.com high schoolsKixxWings