In addition to "downgrading" Pluto's status, the International Astronomical Union also defined two celestial objects - the asteroid Ceres, Charon (Pluto's moon) and 2003 UB313, nicknamed "Xena" by its discovered Michael Brown of Caltech - as dwarf planets. Michael Brown (the astronomer, not the FEMA guy) wrote (before the astronomer's vote) that calling Pluto a planet would cause many other celestial objects to fall into that category:
And the solar system would look like this: So, despite public outcry, astronomers voted to kick Pluto out instead of letting in hundreds of space rocks into the Planet Club. Link: Michael Brown's Website This cartoon, drawn by Richard Crowson of the Wichita Eagle, Kansas - source: the always awesome Daryl Cagle's Professional Cartoonist Index. |
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Save Pluto!
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