Illinois declares Pluto is still a planet

[Sequoia]

Three years ago, the astronomy community voted to downsize the solar system by revoking Pluto's planetary status. Now the land of Lincoln is fighting back

Every now and then a story comes along that seems to be true in spite of every cell in your brain telling you it can't be. Welcome to one of those stories.

In 2006, you'll remember that the International Astronomical Union announced that Pluto was to be expelled from the planetary club, reducing the number of planets in the solar system to eight. Cue mayhem in schools, where teachers were obliged to rip up wallcharts and console their pupils, who were understandably forlorn at the fate of their favourite planet.

In their wisdom, the IAU came up with a new class of heavenly body, "dwarf planet", which would include Pluto. Dwarf planets, incidentally, are not planets that are dwarfy. They are something completely different, the IAU said.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/blog/2009/mar/06/is-pluto-a-planet

[derby378]

1. Brave little Pluto...

I have my own problems with the IAU definition of a "planet." I fear there are many exoplanets who would not be considered true planets under the current IAU rules, but they'll be having another convention before too long, so you can imagine this debate is far from over.

[roguevalley]

2. excellent. :) RV, planetary traditionalist.

[FiveGoodMen]

3. Who cares what we call it?

I'm sure Pluto doesn't.

[Towlie]

4. "The Illinois state governors"? Apparently they mean the state senate.

As such, the Illinois state governors have resolved to take action and reinstate Pluto as a planet.

Fair is fair. Now astronomers get to write a new state law.

[tomreedtoon]

5. WRONG! THIS is Pluto!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3042/2437354977_49582259...
http://www.bsu.edu/web/NESPOON/pluto.bmp

Does this look like a planet to you, you farmboy idiots?

[tomreedtoon]

6. WRONG! THIS is Pluto!

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3042/2437354977_49582259...
http://www.bsu.edu/web/NESPOON/pluto.bmp

Does this look like a planet to you, you farmboy idiots?

[Orsino]

7. Beats workin'.

Wish I had that sort of time at work, with no more important business to take care of.

[phantom power]

8. My four-year-old is able to handle this "problem" just fine.

I explained to her that Pluto used to be called a planet, and now it's not.

[Dogmudgeon]

9. Here's Dr. Dogmudgeon's Definition of a Planet

1. If it's vaguely round, and it has enough gravity to keep it together, it's a PLANET.

2. All planets get an optional ADJECTIVE to describe them: Gas-Giant Planet, Rocky Internal Planet, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cubewano">Cubewano Planet, Dwarf Planet, Hobbit Planet, Backwater Planet, etc.

3. The IAU immediately appoints me as its general director, pays me a $2,000,000 annual salary, gives me the use of an expensive car and a stable of hot chicks who are crazy deep into science.

4. Monkeys fly out of my ass and International Dogmudgeon Day is declared.

--d!
Paging Astronaut Jones, paging Astronaut Jones ...

[Wilms]

10. .

[krispos42]

12. *snort*

LOL excellent!

[trotsky]

13. LMAO

Where can I get one of those??

[TechBear_Seattle]

11. This is a science blog?

The image caption says "Pluto and its moon Charon, as seen from the surface of one of its other satellites."

Umm, Pluto and Charon form a multi-planet system along with Nyx and Hydra. All of these objects orbit a common center of gravity in space and it is incorrect to call any of them satellites of anything.

[DemBones DemBones]

14. I heard a radio horoscope once that said "Pluto's

behind Uranus, so watch out for dogs coming up behind you today."


Which makes me wonder how the astrology folks are dealing with the loss of Pluto as a planet. . .

[joshcryer]

15. WHAT ABOUT CERES?

[pokerfan]

16. Illinois plutocrats are frakkin’ goofy

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2009/03/05/illinois-plutocrats