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« Damn the Torpedoes - Updated 8/20/06 | Main | Pluto Promoted* »

August 24, 2006

Pluto Demoted

plutohubble.jpegThere are now eight planets in our solar system.

After much debate, astronomers of the International Astronomical Union today demoted Pluto from planet to dwarf planet.

"Dwarf planet" is defined as "any round object that has not cleared the neighborhood around its orbit, and is not a satellite."

Makes sense to me. Pluto was only originally classified as a planet after its discovery by Clyde Tombaugh in 1930 because it was thought to be similar in size to Earth. It's actually about one-fifth the diameter of Earth.

Read more here.

Image: Hubble

Update (August 31, 2006)

Pluto's status could shift yet again, as astronomers are mounting a grassroots campaign to readdress the definition of a planet.

Read more at NewScientistSpace and Space.com.

.

Rick Posted by Rick on August 24, 2006 at 09:53 AM

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Comments

"Cleared the neighborhood", pshaw. That's so... feudal.

They're just doing it for the money, of course. Now everybody has to buy new T-shirts and placemats and whatever else we all own that has pictures of the nine planets. It's the same as when a sports franchise switches jersies - it's about revenue.

Sigh. In all seriousness, this was the best move. Now, I'm off to change all of my power-points for the first week of class...

Posted by: Wulf [TypeKey Profile Page] at August 24, 2006 11:34 AM

This is really going to play havoc with astrologers.

Posted by: AlanDP [TypeKey Profile Page] at August 24, 2006 7:38 PM

This is really going to play havoc with astrologers.

Their psychic buddies should have alerted them that this was coming. :)

Posted by: Rick at August 25, 2006 10:54 AM

Check this out...

Posted by: feminist mom at August 25, 2006 4:24 PM

I sincerely hope not. Science shouldn't be swayed by popular opinion. It was a mistake to make Pluto a planet in the first place, just because a bunch of people don't like the decision (people that know nothing about astronomy anyway) shouldn't counter the correct decision.

Posted by: Chris at September 1, 2006 11:47 PM

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