Pluto gets cut

[Dirk Thornclaw]

Just to fire up even a little discussion around here....

Pluto is no longer considered a real planet. It's a dwarf planet now, along with other small celestial bodies like it's moon Charon, Ceres, and UB313 (nicknamed Xena). Bunch of astronomers went to Prague and decided this. So we're down to 8 classical planets.

Does anyone miss Pluto already? It's always been a plane to me, size or no, and it just doesn't feel right cutting it out now. I mean, it makes sense, but after 76 years of planet status it's just kind of...engraved into our society.

(But it's better than the other decision they were considering, which would've given planet status to potentially 53 celestial bodies)

[Rue]

Gaah! I know! Tis' muy ridiculo! What are the teachers gonna do now, eh? I mean, a small portion of all astronomy textbooks has basically been rendered obsolete. They'll have to come out with entirely new textbooks just to cover this little edit.

...although, I really don't see what the big deal is all about. I mean, Pluto is always gonna be there whether it's considered a "planet" or not, ya know? It's like a group of scientists arguing whether a dolphin should be called a "dolphin" or a "porpoise." As if the dolphin could care less.

(my pershizzlin' cookies aren't working right now, which is why I'm not logged in. My entire Internet connection is, in fact, acting rather whimsically at the moment. )

[Margarita]

Yeah, and, like, there's gonna be so many more planets little kids have to memorize now. I mean, back in the days when planets were planets and large bits of celestial dust were large bits of celestial dust, kids could actually sing one song about the nine planets. Now they have to sing one song about the eight planets and one song about the 54 dwarf planets.

It's just not fair; I could barely get used to Pluto going through Neptune's orbit as a little kitten, but now I have to consider it a little planet.

[Finbar Bellamy]

I hate to say it, but...whatever. I'm more interested in what's on these little space-rocks/balls of gas, what they're made of, where they are, than what they're called.

[Chicory Rue]

I tend to agree with Finbar. Although, I do want to bring up another semi-related point which is certainly debatable, but one I think is a very good point. Why in the world are we even bothering with all these little space-expeditions, anyway? Billions of dollars down the drain just like that, and all to collect a bunch of measly space rocks.

Couldn't that money be better used for establishing much-needed government institutions, such as better education systems, better health care, social welfare- anything, really? I well understand "the awe that space brings" or however you want to put it, but really, let's be practical here. The money that's being sucked up by NASA expeditions could go to so much better use.

[Legolas Greenleaf]

Geez that's exactly what an essay that Jess sent me the other day said.

[Antious Treefello]

well because of pluto not being a planet anymore their considering throwing Europe and Austrailia in with Asia...