Losing it in Prague

The November/December issue of Australian Sky & Telescope magazine reports on “the inside story of Pluto’s demotion”, by Owen Gingerich. But you’ll have to buy the mag because it ain’t available online, except for the following teaser:

When rumours began to spread that I would chair a committee for the International Astronomical Union (IAU) to recommend how to define the word “planet”, I promptly received a visitor with an emotional request.

“Don’t demote Pluto,” he pleaded. “Little children love Pluto. They’ll be heartbroken if you tell them Pluto isn’t a planet.”

The next day another caller came by. “Pluto would never have been considered a planet if astronomers had realised, when it was discovered in 1930, that it’s smaller and less massive than the Moon,” he said. “Don’t make the same scientific mistake again.”

I quickly realised that our committee would be treading through a minefield of contrary opinions held by passionate stakeholders. Little did I suspect how that passion would play out!

Also due for publication in the current edition is young Rory Burg’s beautiful Ode to Pluto.

If I can get hold of a copy, I may post more on these and other items.

 
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