It looks like the International Astronomical Union’s (IAU)
hijacked the voting about Pluto. Of the 2,500 plus experts at the IAU
conference, only 424 astronomers voted (the rest had already gone home). Dr. Alan
Stern, who leads NASA’s New Horizons mission to Pluto, stated: "I was not
allowed to vote because I was not in a room in Prague on Thursday 24th. Of
10,000 astronomers, 4% were in that room – you can’t even claim consensus.”
Dr Stern went on to say that “like-minded astronomers had
begun a petition to get Pluto reinstated. Car bumper stickers compelling
motorists to "Honk if Pluto is still a planet" have gone on sale over
the internet and e-mails circulating about the decision have been describing
the IAU as the "Irrelevant Astronomical Union".” (Quoted from the
BBC)
Pluto might have a chance at staying a planet instead of
becoming a “dwarf planet”. I hope that
enough astronomers will veto IAU’s ruling and leave the number of planets at
nine. However, I don’t think they will
as Ceres and 2003 UB313 are floating out there with more mass and size then
Pluto.
Speaking of Pluto, does anyone know who named it? A
little hint, it wasn’t Clyde Tombaugh…..
Answer will be posted Monday if no one guess correct. =)
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I think the whole thing is hilarious, really, what is the difference? Why call it a dwarf planet, if its not a planet?
Oh well.
=)
Wasn’t it some grade-school girl related to an astronomer? I do listen to NPR, but I don’t necessarily remember all the random trivia like some people… =)
so, did you go look up Clyde’s name? or did you ‘just remember’ it? and no, I don’t know who named Pluto. Was it Mickey Mouse? I wonder how long it takes to find out with Google.
ha, 1 search, top 3 results tell you who.