Breeze Perspectives: Say goodbye to poor Pluto
Is nothing in the universe sacred anymore?
By Jessica Novak, contributing writer
Posted on August 31, 2006

It’s a scary thought when even the universe is being second-guessed. And it seems our beloved Pluto has fallen victim to just that.

The inevitable demotion, long in coming, was finally agreed upon after endless debate among astronomers. After all, reclassifying the solar system is a pretty intense job. These experts better be sure about it.

Pluto’s shortcomings were constantly disputed ever since the planet’s original discovery back in 1930. It was just never like the rest of the universe. Unlike Pluto’s gas and rock relatives, it seems our planetary caboose failed to meet several criteria. Little things, like not being able to clear its orbital path and its unusually small size, sealed the fate of the new dwarf planet. Yet, I bet you didn’t know this isn’t the first time a planet’s status has been retracted and the universe redefined.

Back in 1801, Giovanni Piazzi discovered a mass floating between Mars and Jupiter and jumped on the opportunity to call his discovery a planet. However, the fame only lasted for about a half a century until similar objects were discovered. These are now called asteroids — as was Piazzi’s claim to fame, Ceres, until its recent promotion to a “dwarf planet.” Not a full-blown planet, but excellent effort!

So, what effect will Pluto’s name change have? I know I, for one, am disappointed to see the only planet that shares a name with an adorable Disney character get kicked out of the solar system club. Clearly, Pluto was the majority favorite. Not to mention all those years of having those stupid tricks drilled into our heads so we could remember the order of the planets. Obviously they didn’t work, since I can’t remember them now, but I’m sure all those science teachers will have to think of some other clever little rhyme. How can someone teach the planets without that last little “p?”

The World Book Encyclopedia is also feeling the effect, as they have stalled the publication of the 2007 edition, all for little Pluto to be classified correctly. As for all those toys and textbooks, I would take up stock in any science materials company right about now.

Yet, perhaps the greater issue in dealing with our dear departed Pluto is more the historical attachment we are all so familiar with. There is a comfort in knowing your favorite planet is something that can’t change, and watching it be rejected stirs some anxious questions in my mind. What else is bound to change? What other myth are we all blindly accepting? What tricks will science play on us next? In a world so full of such rapid change, you’d think some things would simply stay the same.

But no. Our comfort has been stolen and our precious planet has been demoted. However valid the reasoning, I still find it difficult to swallow. Experts claim the differentiation must be made in order to safely separate Pluto from many other similar bodies; otherwise the solar system would become one big contradiction. And while I suppose I can accept their expert rationalization, the universe just won’t be the same.

So here’s to you, Pluto, and the years you had living the good life, enjoying the fame and fortune of being a real bona fide planet. Science is a fickle thing and we’ll forgive you for your trickery, but know we’re all a little disappointed here on Earth. After all, you were always the favorite, and it’s going to be hard saying eight planets in the solar system, not that comfortable nine. Good luck joining Ceres as a dwarf, and don’t worry — just because you’re not a planet doesn’t mean you’re not important.

Jessica Novak is a sophomore communications major.