Monday, July 30, 2012

a suggested new astronomical term

It seems to me there is a small step of progress which could be attained by grouping together stars with planets in a single category, planets being defined according to the new definition of the International Astronomical Union, in 2006, that omits Pluto. The attainment of hydrostatic equilibrium, one of the new criteria of the IAU for planets, is shared by stars, and in my view enables a body to operate on a certain level that is no different whether planet or star, and needs to be recognized in civilization by a new term if this level is to get the attention it needs for fruition. The term I suggest for this category is astremity, a borrowing from the word extremity, which characterizes a filling of a certain space with form and which suggests the idea of curvature filling a certain space to form a planet or star.