Pluto is a planet. Fuck you.

Aug 24, 2006 at 11:49 AM
5 comments

This is getting stupid.

The International Astronomical Union has reversed its decision from last week and decided that Pluto is NOT a planet after all; but a dwarf planet.

In what many of them described as a triumph of science over sentiment, Pluto was demoted to the status of a “dwarf planet.”

First of all; you just killed the field of astronomy, as children now HATE you, and none of them will be inclined to join your ranks for the forseeable future.

Secondly; If my understanding of English holds here, a 'dwarf planet' would STILL be a planet, as 'planet' is the noun, and 'dwarf' is the modifying adjective on that noun. Therefore a dwarf planet is just a different type of planet, but still a planet.

Using dwarf as a modifier to cancel out the relationship of the parent noun is insulting.

So now dwarfs hate you too.

1 person marked this as a favorite.

Comments

Does this mean we now have 12 planets? From what I understand, by the new definition of dwarf planet, Pluto's moon Charon is now a planet; the asteroid Ceres, which is large enough to be spherical and
orbits the Sun, is now a planet; and a recently discovered large and round object that is larger than Pluto, UB313, is also now a planet.

UB313 is really going to throw a wrench into any revised schoolyard mnemonic.

No. This contradicts last weeks definition of planets, which was 1) spherical and 2) orbiting star. That definition gave us 12 planets. Today's decision knocked us back to 8 planets.

How a bunch of astronomers sitting around a hotel lobby drinking cocktails and pairing off to make Uranus jokes constitutes 'good science' I have no clue.

'Dwarf planet' sounds like a compromise that was intended to please all sides by keeping the word planet and crippling it with a modifier.

Astronomers: they're dead to me. I like my 9 planets, and I like them just the way they are, and until they cure cancer and end world hunger I am not accepting any non humanity advancing scientific breakthroughs. So Pluto is a planet as long as I'm in the room.