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fluffymarkThe claimed discovery of planet X both pleases me and enrages me. While I happily applaud the discovery of a new sizable object in the outer solar system, I'm enraged that anyone has the arrogance to insist it's a planet. Irrespective or not as to if it turns out to be larger or smaller than Pluto - Pluto really shouldn't be a planet either, although nobody realised this at the time of Pluto's discovery. Every few years, someone hails a new small lump of rock to be 'Planet X' - I'm not saying it isn't out there (theres good reasons to believe that there is planet X, in fact), but that none of these little lumps of rock are it.
What is a planet? It's a very difficult question to answer, and was in fact the title to the first section of the first chapter of my PhD thesis. There is no well defined cut-off between large asteroids and small planets. The formation process for both small planets and asteroids is exactly the same, as are the physical characteristics. As things stand, Pluto is arbitarily classed as a planet, with thousands of other objects in the Kuiper Belt with similar orbits and only slightly smaller masses are not planets, which is absurd. If this new object were to be classed as a planet, where do we stop? We'd end up with thousands of 'planets' in our solar system, but most of these would be small lumps of rock that have much more in common with asteroids than a proper planet like the Earth. Pluto itself is more asteroid-like than planet-like, and the indications are that this new 'Planet X' is no different.
But, just in case some idiots decide this is in fact a planet, which greek god should it be named after? I'm all for a planet named Dionysus! Or maybe a goddess for a change?
I got up at some ungodly hour this morning, to join the line of people waiting outside the Russian Consulate. Can someone explain to me why embassies have really stupid opening hours? Grrrrr. Anyway, they seemed quicker and friendlier than last time I was there, and I was finished by 9:30. And there was not a single picture of the much worshipped Mr Putin anywhere. One step closer to going to Russia, now...
What is a planet? It's a very difficult question to answer, and was in fact the title to the first section of the first chapter of my PhD thesis. There is no well defined cut-off between large asteroids and small planets. The formation process for both small planets and asteroids is exactly the same, as are the physical characteristics. As things stand, Pluto is arbitarily classed as a planet, with thousands of other objects in the Kuiper Belt with similar orbits and only slightly smaller masses are not planets, which is absurd. If this new object were to be classed as a planet, where do we stop? We'd end up with thousands of 'planets' in our solar system, but most of these would be small lumps of rock that have much more in common with asteroids than a proper planet like the Earth. Pluto itself is more asteroid-like than planet-like, and the indications are that this new 'Planet X' is no different.
But, just in case some idiots decide this is in fact a planet, which greek god should it be named after? I'm all for a planet named Dionysus! Or maybe a goddess for a change?
I got up at some ungodly hour this morning, to join the line of people waiting outside the Russian Consulate. Can someone explain to me why embassies have really stupid opening hours? Grrrrr. Anyway, they seemed quicker and friendlier than last time I was there, and I was finished by 9:30. And there was not a single picture of the much worshipped Mr Putin anywhere. One step closer to going to Russia, now...
Parisssssssssss!!!!!
Date: 2004-03-15 02:22 pm (UTC)Paris is utterly fab and just being there and swanning around and sitting in bars and stuff can make you feel cool. So if you're knackered don't bust a gut to do the tourist stuff, just head towards somewhere that sounds interesting (the Marais and the Latin Quarter are good) and pootle.
Lots of the tourist stuff is overrated. The Louvre and the Pompidou have long queues and high entrance fees. Montmartre is full of tat (and you can see Sacre Coeur from miles away you don't have to go up there). The Eiffel Tower is pretty but you don't need to go up. You can see it sparkle every hour on the hour from dawn till dusk. Good views can be had for free from the top of the dept store La Samaritaine (there is a lift).
Eat ice-cream at Maison Berthillon. Truly the best ice-cream in Europe (we had ice cream at the place meant to sell the best stuff in Rome and it didn't come close). THere is a dedicated parlour on the Ile de Ste Louis go here for details...www.berthillon-glacier.fr. If it's closed (it closes for the whole of August and in Feb when the owners go skiing) there are lots of places nearby that sell the stuff.
Parc Andre Citroen was designed by landscape gardeners Provost and Clement. It's a modernist interpretation of the formal gardens at Versaille and really stunningly beautiful, possibly even better in winter than summer when all the flowers are out. It's a shame you don't feel like walking too much, it's about 5 mins walk from the Javel Metro station, but it isn't very big and when you get there there are lots of benches. A good place to go for a picnic (we picnicked on wine there in December).
Markets are always fun and good. My favourite is the one on the Place Monge but there are loads dotted around the city.
Other cool things include...
Parc des Buttes Chaumont
The kinetic sculpts in the pond next to the Pompidou Centre
Eating falafels on the Rue des Rosiers
Musee Maillol (if you like your sculpts of hefty naked women) see www.museemaillol.com
Parc des Villettes (but it would take up the whole day) www.villette.com
If you're only there for the weekend it may not be worth buying a guidebook. If you do then the Time Out one is good.
Oh so jealous. Any spare room in your suitcase?
Penny (of Penny and Joe)