Rory scores another for Pluto
A well-written and tenaciously argued letter from our young friend Rory Burg has been published in the November/December issue of Australian Sky & Telescope magazine:
Letter of the Month
Pluto’s Sad DemiseI am in grade one and I am 7. I live in Australia and did you know that the Astronomers are taking Pluto out of our family of planets? I’m sad about it because it doesn’t really matter about how big a planet is, and planets can be big or small. I think the astronomers are being a big bully to Pluto and I was wondering if you could talk to other astronomers and tell them to stop being mean. I have loved the planets since Christmas time and I have lots and lots of books on them.
I think Pluto should be a proper planet because: 1) The Sun’s rays do reach Pluto and Pluto has an orbit away from Neptune. 2) The Sun holds onto Pluto and that means it’s definitely part of our Solar System. 3) Pluto is so interesting. It’s got a funny orbit. It gets closer to the Sun than Neptune for a long time but it doesn’t get caught by Neptune’s gravity. 4) Pluto has its own moon called Charon, AND it has Nix and Hydra too. 5) Pluto might even have things that are alive on it – we don’t even know that yet.
When I get big, I’m going to send probes and a shuttle to Pluto with a secret message saying “sorry Pluto that everyone is bullying you – I’ll make you a proper planet again.”
Please Mr Scientists, don’t let Pluto miss out on being a planet. Here is my poem I wrote when I heard about Pluto.
[Rory’s splendid poem has been posted here. Highly recommended!]
RORY BURG (AGE 7)
Wheelers Hill, Victoria
The AS&T editors responded thus:
Rory, your letter touched everyone at Australian Sky & Telescope. NASA has a probe, New Horizons, already on its way to Pluto. In 2015, we’ll see some great images.
Onya Rory!
Related Previous Posts
Losing it in Prague
211th planetish object discovered
Pluto belongs to everyone
Campaign for Pluto gathers pace
Rory’s call to action
Scared Pluto, but still so brave
Planets cry too
posted by Jacob A. Stam at 10/22/2006 08:29:00 PM
2 Comments:
What a sweet little guy eh Jacob?
And I reiterate Caz's sentiments:
"Pluto can still be a planet in our ownn minds."
Yeah, really sweet Kathy.
And yeah, Caz is spot on. And the IAU will come to regret their decision, I reckon. I mean, was it worth all the drama and heartache it's caused?
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