Potato radius

The potato radius is the size at which an asteroid is massive^[1] enough that gravity begins to make it rounder.^[2] The potato radius defines hydrostatic equilibrium and is used to separate dwarf planets from small solar system bodies.^[3]^[4] Charles Lineweaver and Marc Norman at the Australian National University in Canberra first proposed, an objective definition of a planet, that separates potato-like objects from spherical ones.^[5]^[6]^[7]

References

^ Hall, Ian. "What Makes Earth A Planet, Not A Potato?". The Average Scientist .co.uk. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
^ "Potato radius". BBC Sky at Night Magazine. The Sky at Night, BBC. 9 January 2025. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
^ Caplan, M. E. (November 2015). "Calculating the Potato Radius of Asteroids using the Height of Mt. Everest". arXiv e-prints. Astrophysics Data System: arXiv:1511.04297. arXiv:1511.04297.
^
- Lineweaver, Charles H.; Norman, Marc (7 Apr 2010). "The Potato Radius: A Lower Minimum Size for Dwarf Planets". Proceedings of the 9th Australian Space Science Conference. National Space Society of Australia. arXiv:1004.1091.
- Lineweaver, Charles H.; Norman, Marc (September 28–30, 2009). "The potato radius: A lower minimum size for dwarf planets" (PDF). In Short, W.; Cairns, I. (eds.). Proceedings of 2009 Australian Space Science Conference. 9th Australian Space Science Conference. National Space Society of Australia (published 2010). pp. 67–78. arXiv:1004.1091. ISBN 9780977574032. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 10, 2023. Retrieved August 11, 2023.
^ "Picking Planets from Potatoes". phys.org. Astrobiology Magazine. April 26, 2010. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
^ "'Potato Radius' To Define Dwarf Planets". MIT Technology Review. Emerging Technology from the arXiv. Retrieved 1 August 2025.
^ Nerlich, Steve (April 17, 2010). "Astronomy Without A Telescope – One Potato, Two Potato". Universe Today. Retrieved 1 August 2025.

[theaveragescientist/planet-potato-1] Hall, Ian. "What Makes Earth A Planet, Not A Potato?". The Average Scientist .co.uk. Retrieved 1 August 2025.

[skyatnightmagazine/potato-radius-2] "Potato radius". BBC Sky at Night Magazine. The Sky at Night, BBC. 9 January 2025. Retrieved 1 August 2025.

[arXiv.1511.04297-3] Caplan, M. E. (November 2015). "Calculating the Potato Radius of Asteroids using the Height of Mt. Everest". arXiv e-prints. Astrophysics Data System: arXiv:1511.04297. arXiv:1511.04297.

[4] 
Lineweaver, Charles H.; Norman, Marc (7 Apr 2010). "The Potato Radius: A Lower Minimum Size for Dwarf Planets". Proceedings of the 9th Australian Space Science Conference. National Space Society of Australia. arXiv:1004.1091.

Lineweaver, Charles H.; Norman, Marc (September 28–30, 2009). "The potato radius: A lower minimum size for dwarf planets" (PDF). In Short, W.; Cairns, I. (eds.). Proceedings of 2009 Australian Space Science Conference. 9th Australian Space Science Conference. National Space Society of Australia (published 2010). pp. 67–78. arXiv:1004.1091. ISBN 9780977574032. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 10, 2023. Retrieved August 11, 2023.

[5] Lineweaver, Charles H.; Norman, Marc (7 Apr 2010). "The Potato Radius: A Lower Minimum Size for Dwarf Planets". Proceedings of the 9th Australian Space Science Conference. National Space Society of Australia. arXiv:1004.1091.

[6] Lineweaver, Charles H.; Norman, Marc (September 28–30, 2009). "The potato radius: A lower minimum size for dwarf planets" (PDF). In Short, W.; Cairns, I. (eds.). Proceedings of 2009 Australian Space Science Conference. 9th Australian Space Science Conference. National Space Society of Australia (published 2010). pp. 67–78. arXiv:1004.1091. ISBN 9780977574032. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 10, 2023. Retrieved August 11, 2023.

[phys/2010-04-planets-potatoes.-5] "Picking Planets from Potatoes". phys.org. Astrobiology Magazine. April 26, 2010. Retrieved 1 August 2025.

[MIT-tech-review/27697-6] "'Potato Radius' To Define Dwarf Planets". MIT Technology Review. Emerging Technology from the arXiv. Retrieved 1 August 2025.

[universetoday/astronomy-potato-7] Nerlich, Steve (April 17, 2010). "Astronomy Without A Telescope – One Potato, Two Potato". Universe Today. Retrieved 1 August 2025.

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See also

References