As I recently heard from multiple sources, Pluto has lost its title as a planet. This certainly upsets me, and I will explain why.
First of all, I've grown up with the comfort of knowing that there are nine planets in our solar system. Nine lovely, whirling planets that were always planets and were always there to be studied. Now I'm told that everything I've learned in science classes about Pluto is completely and utterly WRONG. WRONG WRONG WRONG. And what about that cute little phrase we learned in elementary school? My very educated mother just served us nine huh? Nine what? I suppose now they'll say "noodles" instead of "nine" but it just doesn't sound as appealing as "nine pizzas." I'd take the pizzas.
Secondly, as a young adult aspiring to become prosperous in a field of science that deals mainly with space, it is slightly upsetting to be thrown off like this. What do we call it now, Pluto the not-planet? Pluto the rock? Pluto the orbiting, spinning, almost-planet that pretty much is a planet but can't be considered one because a bunch of scientists said so? So frustrating.
And finally, aren't there black holes and fifth dimensions to think about instead of wondering if Pluto is a planet or not? I understand the need to have answers, the want to know, but still... We have so much more to discover about our universe; limiting ourselves to Pluto's classification seems a bit weak.
Rest in peace, Pluto the planet.
16 years ago
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