The proposal, led by University of California professor Jean-Luc Margot, proposes quantitative criteria: the planet must orbit a celestial body, have a mass greater than 10^23 kg, and be less than 13 times the mass of Jupiter. This approach aims to replace “fuzzy terms” with universally applicable measurable criteria.
Margot’s team used mathematical algorithms to determine the general characteristics of the planets in our solar system, and advocated a classification that would also apply to the exoplanets. They challenge the current requirement for sphericity by proposing to define a planet solely by mass, since larger celestial bodies are naturally spherical.
Margo hopes that the proposal will spark discussion and lead to a more scientifically sound definition.
Source: Ferra
I am a professional journalist and content creator with extensive experience writing for news websites. I currently work as an author at Gadget Onus, where I specialize in covering hot news topics. My written pieces have been published on some of the biggest media outlets around the world, including The Guardian and BBC News.
