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| Science & Technology |
| First they came for Pluto |
| 2006-08-27 |
| The International Astronomical Union shook up the solar system Thursday when it declared that Pluto was no longer part of the cosmic club -- the first time the solar system was altered since Pluto was spotted in 1930. Under new guidelines, Pluto was downgraded to a "dwarf planet," a new category that also includes the asteroid Ceres, the newly discovered object 2003 UB313, and possibly dozens of others. On Cafepress.com, a San Francisco-area Internet company that prints T-shirts and other merchandise, an explosion of Pluto inventory popped up within 24 hours of the news. By Friday morning, the site featured 200 designs on more than 1,500 products. Many items and slogans fretted Pluto's demise and pined for the return of the obsolete nine-planet solar system. T-shirts screamed "Save Pluto" and "Stop Planetary Discrimination" while bumper stickers rallied "PLUTO 2006: Running as an Independent Candidate" and "Vote for Pluto." Others were more wistful. "Pluto, we hardly knew ye ... 1930-2006" was available in adult and kid's apparel as well as caps and bags. My own favorite, First they came for Pluto, but I was not a Plutan. Then they came for Uranus. |
| Posted by:Nimble Spemble |
| #12 Okay, I'll bite, isn't a "dwarf/minor planet" technically still a planet??? And iff "planets" are supposed to be named after Gods/Goddesses, LUCY LAWLESS' bikini specs aside IS NOT "ZENA" NOT A NAME OF A GODDESS??? |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2006-08-27 23:20 |
| #11 Clyde Tombaugh is spinning in his grave. There's a pretty good story in, I believe, Fantasy & Science Fiction magazine, entitled "The Tombaugh Station" (it's ancient - you'll have to Google to find it if it's available). Uh...if anyone is wondering - Clyde Tombaugh is the guy who discovered Pluto. |
| Posted by: FOTSGreg 2006-08-27 20:13 |
| #10 **little know fact over-shadowed by Pluto's reduction in status. According to the senior scientists at International Astronomical Union the 7th planet will no longer be referred to in a personalized manner, they said that henceforth the 7th planet will referred to as Ring Around The Anus instead of Your-Anus. Baadaa boom |
| Posted by: Bubblegum Angager5204 2006-08-27 16:58 |
| #9 I pronounce Uranus the dirty way According to 'Futurama', in 2620, Uranus is renamed to Urectum to put an end to this sort of humor. |
| Posted by: SteveS 2006-08-27 16:23 |
| #8 It does make a mystery of that old mnemonic; now it's "My very earnest mother just served us nine..." Future generations will be much perplexed |
| Posted by: Vegas Matt 2006-08-27 14:37 |
| #7 Think about it. What other probability in the entire universe that some astronomy geeks might get to meet Lucy Lawless, in person? |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2006-08-27 14:29 |
| #6 Check out "peoplescube" for hilarious Pluto stuff... |
| Posted by: borgboy 2006-08-27 13:21 |
| #5 They were all good and happy with the old situation until some new upstart finds something like Pluto and gives it the name 'Xena' and its moon 'Gabriel'. Talk about a bunch of pseudo important twits who can take plenty of tax money to justify their existance. No sense of humor, I guess, when no one pays any attention to you except when you jump up and down claiming the sky is falling [even if it is, we just can't do anything about it at the moment]. |
| Posted by: Anguting Shinenter1301 2006-08-27 12:45 |
| #4 Kind of sounds like the IAU needs something to do . . . or maybe just some attention. |
| Posted by: ex-lib 2006-08-27 12:00 |
| #3 Was Planet when I was born it will stay a planet thank you. |
| Posted by: djohn66 2006-08-27 11:53 |
| #2 I refuse to conform! I still call Pluto a planet, and I pronounce Uranus the dirty way |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-08-27 10:14 |
| #1 nice headline, 'course I'd expect thatr from a Spemble! |
| Posted by: Uncle Ben 2006-08-27 09:22 |