Xena No More

By now, we should all know about Xena. Not the character from the TV show of the same name, but that Kuiper Belt Object discovered by astronomer Mike Browne and nicknamed for the warrior princess. It was the discovery of Xena that led to the grand debate about what is a planet, and to Pluto's de-planet-ization.

Xena, however, was only a temporary nickname. Browne had a real name, drawn from mythology (as are nearly all names for planets, moons and the like). And this week, that name was revealed, and ratified...

Eris. The goddess of discord. As Browne notes, it's a perfect name.

Nice to find an astronomer with a sense of humor and irony.

This Week's Comics (Addendum) - The Escapists

Last month, the shop I went to didn't have this comic. This week, I just managed to forget it was coming out. Sorta ironic that a book called The Escapists keeps escaping me.

But it's worth the wait. And the extra walk in the rain.

( Read more... )