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Name: Brett
Status: student
Age: 13
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: 3/22/2004
Question:
How do they name the Planets?

Replies:
This is done through a committee for planetary nomenclature of the International Astronomical Union. The process usually takes about 3 years, or if it involves moons of other planets it can take 20-30 years.

The name of the recently discovered 'planet' "Sedna" might stick or could be thrown out. When the moon of Pluto was discovered, it was unofficially named 'Sharon' by the discoverer after his wife, but the IAU refused to accept the name and named it 'Charon' after the ferryman in Greek mythology, a decision inspired by the discoverer's original choice.

Howard Barnes.


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