News from Space

Two pieces of Space-related news:

1. The Great Wall of China is not visible in space. According to this report, the Chinese government has officially stated as such. One to remember for your local's quiz!

2. Is Sedna the 10th planet of our solar system? Heather Cooper doesn't think so. Speaking on BBC Five Live this morning, she claimed that neither Pluto or Sedna should be classified as planets, that they are no more than large asteroids. Her claim is echoed in Wikipedia:

The discovery of Sedna has also re-raised the question which astronomical objects should be considered planets and which should not. Even though on March 15, 2004, several news sources reported the tenth planet has been discovered, it seems unlikely that Sedna will be called a planet; however, with Sedna not being classified as a planetary body, the justification for Pluto's classification as one also becomes more questionable.

How does a big rock become classified as a planet? Find out more here.

I quite like the name Sedna, though.