March 2, 2017 11:45 PM<\/p>\n
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) NASA recently asked the publicto help name seven newly discovered planets,and the people have responded. <\/p>\n
Social media is all abuzz about the solar system with people chiming in like crazy, using the hashtag #7NamesFor7NewPlanets. <\/p>\n
I think thats amazing, one man told CBS2s Jessica Layton. <\/p>\n
It started trending after NASA suggestedthe public weigh inon what to call the seven newly discovered planets near the Trappist-1 star in the Aquarius constellation. <\/p>\n
What I would name new planets? Oh God, thats a lot of pressure, awoman said. <\/p>\n
But outside the Forbidden Planet comic book store, nobody was too shy to share, Layton reported. <\/p>\n
Johnny thyroids, murple, grapefruit, one man suggested. <\/p>\n
I would name them after the seven dwarfs, another added. <\/p>\n
Barbara? one man said. <\/p>\n
Id name them after the women who worked at NASA who were inHidden Figures,' a woman added. <\/p>\n
From serious to silly and sweet, its got peopletalking about science, which pleases planetarium manager Kevin Conod. <\/p>\n
We do know that they are rocky type planets, and they are somewhat similar to the Earth in terms of size, he explained. <\/p>\n
During a visit to the museum in Newark, Conod told Layton the unnamed planets are light years away from the Earth. With current technology, it would take 159,000 years to get there. <\/p>\n
So lets face it the closest well get in this lifetime is having fun trying to name them. <\/p>\n
Its a good way to engage the public, Conod said. <\/p>\n
Especially now, science needs all the fans it can get, said Merle Milder, of North Bergen, New Jersey. <\/p>\n
This might be a good way of tryingget people to start caring about NASA and space expedition stuffbecause I know theyre horrendously underfunded, said Peter Gritch, of Queens. <\/p>\n
For now at least, plenty are willing to give their two cents. <\/p>\n
Conod said its possible NASA will take the ideas into consideration, but ultimately its the International Astronomical Union that will make the final decision. <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Originally posted here:<\/p>\n