Newsflash: Planet Pluto Destroyed!

Hi folks -- It's been all over the news today: Planet Pluto is no more.

Before you start panicking, screaming and running around in circles with your hands in the air, it's not because of alien destroyers, a wandering black hole or other cosmic cataclysm -- Pluto has simply been stripped of its status as a planet.

Why? Steroids.

Actually, it's because astronomers have changed the definition of "planet" -- if they hadn't, they would have had to consider giving 3 other big chunks of rock out there in the solar system planet status.

With the loss of Pluto as a planet, that leaves us with the eight "classical" planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Qo'noS and Sneezy.

[Update: I am told that the above is incorrect; Qo'noS is, of course, the Klingon homeworld, and Sneezy is one of the Seven Dwarves, not a Dwarf Planet, which is the categorization under which Pluto now falls. The other two outer planets are Uranus and Neptune. We regret the error.]

Also from the article:

"It was unclear how Pluto's demotion might affect the mission of NASA's New Horizons spacecraft, which earlier this year began a 9 1/2-year journey to the oddball object to unearth more of its secrets."

I think it's pretty safe to say that they're not going to turn the thing around.

Now that the solar system is 12.5 percent smaller, we'll have another item for the Beloit College Class of 2027 Mindset List: "There have always been eight planets in the solar system."

Thanks -- Joe

Tags: pluto, dwarf planets, solar system, astronomy

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This entry has 8 comments: (Add your own)

#8 Comment from penabronx
10/6/06 1:59 PM | Permalink

I just don't understand what this person is saying. Either reread what you're going to publish or don't wrtie anything at all. I'm very interested in the topic but what this article sounds like is just someone trying to get attention.
#7 Comment from mavarin
8/25/06 12:28 AM | Permalink

Apparently the PTB have insufficient respect for the wrath of Athena and Cthulu. I'm rather wrathful myself, come to that. My Very Educated Mother Just Sat Upon Nine? Phooey! Better to let Xena in than kick Pluto out! - Karen
#6 Comment from jamie24601
8/24/06 11:24 PM | Permalink

I read the greatest press release from the nice people at Disney:

Despite Planetary Downgrade, Pluto is Still Disney's 'Dog Star'

In reaction to news today that Pluto was demoted to the status of "dwarf planet," the Seven Dwarfs issued their own short statement:

"Although we think it's DOPEY that Pluto has been downgraded to a dwarf planet, which has made some people GRUMPY and others just SLEEPY, we are not BASHFUL in saying we would be HAPPY if Disney's Pluto would join us as an 8th dwarf. We think this is just what the DOC ordered and is nothing to SNEEZE at."

As Mickey Mouse's faithful companion, Pluto made his debut in 1930 – the same year that scientists discovered what they believed was a ninth planet. Said a white-gloved, yellow-shoed source close to Disney's top dog, "I think the whole thing is goofy. Pluto has never been interested in astronomy before, other than maybe an occasional howl at the moon."

Jamilyn
http://parkhopper.blogspot.com
#5 Comment from onestrangecat
8/24/06 2:35 PM | Permalink

Just who do they think they are? You can't call something a planet for this long and suddenly rip it's title away! I want a recount!!!! Pluto is a planet! (and a dog at disney but that is another story)

Everyone blames steroids for everything! Next thing you know they will be asking Pluto to take a urine test!

Kathy
#4 Comment from dcmeyer420
8/24/06 2:04 PM | Permalink

You mean asteriods, right? Pluto on steroids is just too funny.

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Newsflash: Planet Pluto Destroyed!