Planetary Injustice
Pluto Demoted Day
As you may know, I enjoy timing my posts with official recognition days on the calendar. So, not to disappoint, on August 24, 2006, this day became “Pluto Demoted Day.” Yes, on this day, twenty years ago, the International Astronomical Union voted to downgrade Pluto from a full, card-carrying member planet to a mere “dwarf” planet. Thus, reducing the planet count in our solar system from nine to a mere eight…
Where It All Began
Well, before we get into the tragedy of Pluto’s story, let’s touch base with the good ol’ days when Pluto was a planet. To do so, Carol and I spent an evening at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona.
Back in the 1920s, astronomers theorized that there was a ninth planet based on some “wobble” in the orbit of Uranus. So, in Flagstaff, AZ, the Pluto Discovery Telescope was built in the late 1920s with the sole purpose of discovering this “Planet X.” And, on February 18, 1930, American astronomer, Clyde Tombaugh, officially documented the existence of our ninth planet, naming it…Pluto. Just FYI…the name “Pluto” comes from the Roman god of the underworld…not the Disney dog.
That was the good ol’ days when we had 9 planets in our solar system and Pluto had some respect. Then, it all came crashing down.
The VOTE
I warn you. This may get a little “sciencey.”
On the surface, Pluto’s demotion is clear. You need to meet all 3 criteria to be considered a planet: orbit the sun, roughly spherical in shape, and clear the area around your orbit. According to the International Astronomical Union, Pluto fails to clear its orbit…therefore, its not a planet. But, according to the bitter volunteer at the Pluto Discovery Planet, the entire Pluto demotion was a political hatchet job…
Apparently, on Wednesday of the IAU Convention, the planetary scientists presented their reason for supporting Pluto as a planet. Then, on Thursday, the orbital scientists presented their reasons why Pluto is NOT a planet. Then, the IAU voted on the fate of Pluto. Well, as it had been a long week of partying at the convention, many of the planetary scientist went home after their Wednesday presentations. Therefore, the orbital scientists got the numbers advantage in the Friday vote. Thus, Pluto became a DWARF planet.
Moral of the Story
The moral of the story is to PARTY ON! These professional conventions are nothing but boondoggles where the nerds get out in the world and have some fun. Because the orbital scientists stayed one day later than the planetary scientists…Pluto was forever doomed to be a dwarf. This planetary injustice happened because the weak ass, planetary scientists could not PARTY ON for the full week. So, today on Pluto Demoted Day, you know the real story.
Have a wonderful day. PT
I hope you have enjoyed reading “Planetary Injustice” on Traveling with PugsleyTonks
Here is a past post of another injustice… https://travelingwithpt.com/this-aint-no-washington-monument/
Plan your visit to the Lowell Observatory… https://lowell.edu/campus/pluto-discovery-telescope/
Please remember my one and only sponsor. Do a ghost tour somewhere
