Is there still hope for Pluto?


The new definition of the term "planet" adopted by the IAU, which excluded Pluto from that category, is not being universally accepted- and will undoubtedly be at least revised.

All right, the odds of Pluto becoming a planet again are remote. But with the very definition of the term "planet" remaining up for grabs, and the decision to demote Pluto still so controversial, anything could happen.
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Anonymous said…
"Some astronomers seemed irritated by perceived American domination of the process. Some felt, with considerable justification in my opinion, that some Americans astronomers defended Pluto as a planet in large part because an American had discovered it. As in so many other international contexts, there can be reaction against perceived American arrogance."

This biased excerpt from the informational-graphics-editor-turned-science-writer, Robert Roy Britt, in his article confirms that (anti-American) politics is involved in (or can be interjected into) astronomy.

Who would have suspected?!?
11/23/2006 09:03:00 AM
Robert Elart Waters said…
Oh, those evil Americans!

I'd be really disappointed to find out that the anti-American paranoia that has infected so much of the world has truly spread to the astronomical community as well.

If the decision was made at all on that basis, then shame on the IAU members for letting the most petty of political obsessions get in the way of a scientific decision.
11/23/2006 06:55:00 PM
Anonymous said…
So what happens to all of those scorpios whose ruling planet is pluto? Do they get some kind of default planet or will they all just become completely chaotic as do those who have no ruler? As a pisces I'm not too worried as my ruling planet, Neptune, is way ginormous.
SteveH
11/24/2006 10:59:00 PM
Robert Elart Waters said…
I'm sure astrologers will come up with something. After all, their imaginations are their stock in trade.
11/26/2006 01:10:00 AM
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