Should Pluto be reinstated as a planet?

[Buffy]

CNN ran a piece today asking this question:

Originally Posted by CNN, 8/24/20009

For one of the farthest, coldest places in the solar system, Pluto sure stirs a lot of hot emotions right here on Earth.

It was three years ago Monday that the International Astronomical Union demoted Pluto from a planet to a dwarf planet, a decision that made jaws drop around the world.

An outcry followed, textbooks had to be rewritten, long-held beliefs were shattered, and many people felt our cosmic neighborhood just didn't seem the same with eight -- instead of nine --planets in the solar system.

....

Earlier this year, the Illinois Senate adopted a resolution declaring that Pluto was "unfairly downgraded" and restoring "full planetary status" to the celestial body as it "passes overhead through Illinois' night skies."

It also designated March 13, 2009, as "Pluto Day" in honor of the date that its discovery was announced in 1930. (In case you are wondering why the state is so passionate about Pluto: Clyde Tombaugh, who discovered the planet-now-dwarf-planet, was born in Illinois.)

Meanwhile, New Mexico's House of Representatives proclaimed February 18, 2009, as "Pluto is a Planet in New Mexico Day" and praised Tombaugh, who worked in the state for decades and died there in 1997.

Yes, if the scientists are wrong, well, just have the politicians say so!

You can even sign a petition to redress your grievances, if this happens to be one of them.

SO, go ahead, let us all know what you think...

An expert is a person who avoids small error as he sweeps on to the grand fallacy,
Buffy

[Tormod]

Of course it should.

[freeztar]

Originally Posted by Tormod

Of course it should.

Well, certainly not because of the Kuiper Sanctions.

[Boerseun]

I voted "yes" because in my country we were all taught a neat little mnemonic in Afrikaans to remember the nine planets, in order from the sun: "Meneer Van As, My Jas Sal U Nie Pas" - and now it just... doesn't work, man. (Okay - the A in the "As" points to "Aarde", which is Afrikaans for Earth. But you prolly guessed it by now...)

[Zythryn]

I can't believe some of the things our 'representatives' waste their time on.

[lemit]

I voted "Yes" simply to stop propagation of the idea that "Pluto is a planet in New Mexico." People seem to have enough trouble learning both astronomy and geography without having that thrown at them.

--lemit

[Southtown]

I voted no. It would be ridiculous and confusing to just add an exception to the scientific definitions. But, I do disagree that dwarf planets don't qualify as 'real' planets. It's a freakin' subgroup of planet!

[TheBigDog]

I voted no. I like the distinction between objects on a planetary plane that meet certain criteria and other objects orbiting the sun, such as those in the Kuiper Belt and the Oort Cloud.

[Moontanman]

yes it should be a planet but only if other gravitationally round objects with internally differentiated internal structure in independent orbit are planets too. Ceres comes to mind....

[CraigD]

Back before the 2006 IAU vote on the definition of a planet, we did our own poll, Vote on the IAU draft resolution "Definition of a Planet" on the draft resolution they adopted, narrowly rejecting it (7 for, 8 against, 2 undecided).

I was one of the “for” votes, so I’m a “no” vote on “reinstating Pluto as a planet”. I think the IAU managed a pretty good definition of planet, and that Pluto and other big trans-Neptunian objects should continue to be called “dwarf planets”.

If you decide Pluto should regain its “regular ole’ planet” title, it’s hard to see how you can not give 136199 Eris (the dwarf planet formerly known as Xena) the same title, as it’s 28% more massive, and has about the same orbital eccentricity (.2835 vs. Pluto’s .2488), and it doesn’t have a moon 12% as massive as it to give it a confusing double planet status. Given the zoo of objects resembling Pluto discovered to date, it’s wise, I think, to expect more big ones to be discovered as time and astronomy goes on.


A wikipedia commons image of the currently known largest denizens of the TNO zoo