Pluto Demoted, No Longer A Planet

Astronomers OK New Guidelines Cutting Planets In Solar System From 9 to 8

(CBS/AP) 
Pluto and objects like it will be known as “dwarf planets,” which raised some thorny questions about semantics: If a raincoat is still a coat, and a cell phone is still a phone, why isn't a dwarf planet still a planet?

NASA said Pluto's downgrade would not affect its $700 million New Horizons spacecraft mission, which this year began a 9½-year journey to the oddball object to unearth more of its secrets.

But mission head Alan Stern said he was “embarrassed” by Pluto's undoing and predicted that Thursday's vote would not end the debate. Although 2,500 astronomers from 75 nations attended the conference, only about 300 showed up to vote.

“It's a sloppy definition. It's bad science,” he said. “It ain't over.”

Under the new rules, two of the three objects that came tantalizingly close to planethood will join Pluto as dwarfs: the asteroid Ceres, which was a planet in the 1800s before it got demoted, and 2003 UB313, an icy object slightly larger than Pluto whose discoverer, Michael Brown of the California Institute of Technology, has nicknamed “Xena.” The third object, Pluto's largest moon, Charon, isn't in line for any special designation.

Brown, whose Xena find rekindled calls for Pluto's demise because it showed it isn't nearly as unique as it once seemed, waxed philosophical.

“Eight is enough,” he said, jokingly adding: “I may go down in history as the guy who killed Pluto.”

Demoting the icy orb named for the Roman god of the underworld isn't personal — it's just business — said Jack Horkheimer, director of the Miami Space Transit Planetarium and host of the PBS show “Star Gazer.”

“It's like an amicable divorce,” he said. “The legal status has changed but the person really hasn't. It's just single again.”

[dsdlfl]

PLuto's orbit varies by roughly 17 degrees from the plane in which the now 8 planet system lies. Ceres' has just as strong a case for planet-hood as Pluto, but anyone nostalgic about Ceres has been dead for 200 years.

[moser71]

The universe holds many mysteries. There's more out there than we know. Pluto has existed long enough to give credence to it's authenticity as a TRUE PLANET. Whatevidenceis cited to demote it? Having done this, it sounds as though the universe has gotten smaller.

[dsdlfl]

My young cousin behaved the same way as Tyler.....

................Only he was upset because Chris Shelton was sent down to the AAA Mudhens. Oh and Mickey Mouse is on his last legs. Say goodbye to cartoon PLuto as well.

[dsdlfl]

Pluto's orbit is highly eliptical, and in fact isn't in the same plane as the other planets. The 8 planet system will be far easier to use than what could possibly swell to 100 as further exploration of the Kuiper Belt occured.

[ronniehm]

That's right, Raver, because planets have feelings too.

[bubbiesraver]

Saying that Pluto isn't a planet, is like saying midgets aren't people.

[buzzygirl-2009]

This whole debate reminds us of how little we actually know about the outer reaches of our solar system.

The Kuiper Belt, of which Pluto, Xena, Sedna and 2003 UB313 are a part, contains the leftovers from the birth of our solar system. We need to study this class of objects up close if possible, because the more we understand them, the more we'll know about the formative years of our solar system. Their distance is daunting for personal exploration, but Pluto is the closest of these objects that we know of, and will serve as a representative for their class.

Hopefully, the demotion of Pluto to dwarf planet will not deleteriously affect NASA's New Horizons project.

[tommy__chong]

Hey man this is messed up why cant pluto be a planet. I mean what did he do to you man? Leave him alone. Litte guy in the sky you are always a planet to be buddie. Do you people have nothing better to do than to decided what planets get to STAY planets go *** yourself.

[alphaa10-2009]

Gossimer3-- Actually, astrologers have a problem not only with Pluto but something called the "precession of the equinoxes"-- meaning the dates supposedly applying to each zodiac sign no longer coincide with the current position of that constellation. For example, the solar month of Scorpio no longer finds the constellation Scorpio overhead. Apparently, the universe has dared to move since these solar periods were cast in stone (sometimes literally). Likewise, the earth is no longer the center of the cosmos-- heavens!

All this "fumbling" among astronomers about Pluto illustrates the self-corrective aspect of science-- not least in the fact, this time, no one has been tried before a high council for the heresy Pluto cannot be a planet.

We are reminded of the 1997 Pathfinder mission to Mars and the gradually emerging topology of the landing site. As new data clarified the surroundings, looming boulders became only rocks, and as the view expanded, these rocks became tinier, still, in context of everything else. This clarity need not annihilate human significance, but it is nice to know what we are looking at, as well.

[ronniehm]

Mr Ball, grow up. You were wrong. Everyone knows it but you.

[rsturgeon21]

If Pluto is demotable, then promote the Moon to planet status and make the Earth-Moon a binary planet system. After all, it's all arbitrary and negotiable. - Suzanne Turgeon

[lissa_girl13]

Ok I am completely tired of people believing that the United States is full of self-serving ignorant people. We realize that the world does not revolve around us, and we realize people have their individual jobs, but we also realize that their are problems in the world and someone has to begin to make a stance against them. Those who stereotype the United States Citizens as heartless, self-righteous people are judging the people by the bias against its government. We know that the rest of the world may not agree with what we are doing, many of us do not support what our government is doing, but we do support our government out of respect. I would think it would be beneficial for others to atleast respect our motives.

[red1530]

I think Pluto should not have been demoted because it has an atmosphere and three moons.

[mrvolleyba11]

for some reason some of you think that all of these astronomers are from the USA, as usual you american's think the world revolves around you! this was a gathering of astronomers from around the world and I'm sure this was not the only issue discussed. as far as more important world issues, this is not their job, astronomer is their job, now if this was a meeting of world leaders getting together to discuss ending world hunger and this is what came out of it (that Pluto is no longer a planet) then that would be a waste of tax payers money. That's like complaining about the cartoons in the paper trying to be funny when there is so much evil in the world! that's not the purpose of the cartoons, sport section, etc, etc.

[mrvolleyba11]

BonnieHM Truth Hurts!!!

[lissa_girl13]

While I agree with many of the people on the comments list that this seems like a trivial way to spend ones time when so many other issues are seemingly going without attention is rediculous I also believe this: People are given different talents in order for us to grow as a culture, whether that is in scientific, political, social, or economical ways is up to the individual. Those scientists who decide upon the validity of a planet are just fulfilling their roles in making our scientific knowledge as acurate as possible.

[gossimer]

Hmmm... Imagine what this is going to do to Astrologers and the people who follow their horoscopes and birth charts. All those programs available now that allow people to cast horoscopes and birth charts for themselves and others are now obsolete and incorrect. Nope, as far as I'm concerned, Pluto is STILL a planet, if for no other reason than it has it's own moons orbiting it! I grew up with the knowledge of NINE "planets" in our solar system and by golly that's EXACTLY what I'm going to continue believing! I wonder what Carl Sagan would have to say about all this...

[buzzygirl-2009]

Earlier on this page, the quote was attributed as such: "Deep down inside, I know this is the right thing to do. It's sad. As of today, I have no longer discovered a planet." [Michael Brown, discoverer of Pluto]

They changed the attribution so that it now reads correctly.

[mrvolleyba11]

...am I missing something (Buzzykill & Bonnie)??? No where do I see that they gave credit to Mr Brown for discovering Pluto, I understand today's youth are scoring lower and lower on tests and everything but I didn't realize they were illiterate also! Dragongirl22 is correct in that they said Mr Brown discovered 2003 UB313, NOT Pluto!!!

"Deep down inside, I know this is the right thing to do. It's sad. As of today, I have no longer discovered a planet."
Michael Brown, discoverer of 2003 UB313

[ronniehm]

Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm ... the caption says, "discoverer of Pluto," so the dispute is with the credit given to him, not the man's quote.

Nice fact-checking yourself, Drago.