Tenth planet not a real one, says Scientist

Nihal P. Abeysinghe

COLOMBO: Scientifically there are only eight planets in the solar planetary system. This decision was taken by world’s astronomical (space) scientists at a meeting in London recently, Dr. Sarath Gunapala, a Sri Lankan Chief Scientist attached to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in USA said.

The 10th planet in the solar system claimed recently was not a true planet, Dr. Gunapala said. Scientists arrived at this decision because Pluto had a very thin atmosphere and its trajectory round the sun was not systematic. Dr. Gunapala who was born in Yatiyantota joined the NASA in 1991 and is attached to its jet propulsion laboratories.

Scientists at the London meeting gave three interpretations to a planet.

A real planet should be circular in shape due to its gravity. Secondly a planet should be able to absorb meteors and ice globes on its way. A planet should also have an atmosphere and a permanent elipsical trajectory.

The laser camera attached to the Pathfinder Space mission in 1998 was Dr. Gunapala’s creation. He has also produced several apparatus for research on extra terrestrial gases.

Dr. Gunapala said NASA planned to send men to the moon again in 2014. It also hoped to send a massive telescope 64 times larger than a ‘hubble’ telescope to space to search for the existence of living beings in space.

Commenting on the particles of a meteor which landed in areas around Katunayake recently, Dr. Gunapala said the possibility of large meteors falling on earth was extremely rare.