All this time, we've been referencing Pluto as the planet farthest from the sun, little cute Pluto out there, holding it all together. But no. Now we learn that Pluto can't even follow the rules. In order to be considered a plant, each must keep an orbit that doesn't disturb it's neighbors, and apparently Pluto has been encroaching on Neptune for quite some time now. It's oblong rotation around the sun, which my coworker pointed out today takes
The funny part is that there is a faction of astronomers in Prague discussing the issue at this very moment and they can't seem to get along.
That plan proved highly unpopular, dividing the group into factions and triggering an acrimonious debate full of angry denunciations that ultimately sunk Pluto.Can't you just imagine a bunch of hyper scientists fighting tooth and nail to keep Pluto? Just today they decided to no longer consider any of Pluto's three moons for special status -- so now even they've been downgraded and are no longer "moons".
And this leads me to speculate that we really don't know a darn thing about the solar system or the universe. We could be orbitting inside some alien's aquarium in a whole different dimension than we think, and amount to microscopic atomic waste for all we know. Clearly enough to show that our brains are infinitesimal.
4 comments:
I remember learning the (then) nine planets in school by reciting "My Very Eager Mother Just Sat Upon New Paint." Now it's "My Very Eager Mother Just Sat Upon" ... Nothing?
RE: "poor Pluto"
I will have you know that this phrase was first uttered by non other than the handsome man you used to share a cube with. Read your work email much?
- The true author of "poor Pluto"
i AM devastated.
I've been keeping up on this debate in the scientific community via my late-night talk radio habit.
It's been quite controversial and the 'tin-foil hats' were excited at the thought of a 'new planet category'...
and there I go, revealing too much.
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