tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6929681576205319273.post6253426993057764544..comments2020-12-12T14:46:16.984-08:00Comments on Bones Astronomy: My 2009 International Year of Astronomy Wish ListsRingohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09506068154852505840noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6929681576205319273.post-38987483893400339282009-01-15T04:17:00.000-08:002009-01-15T04:17:00.000-08:00I hope that you won't hate me for saying this but ...I hope that you won't hate me for saying this but I do seriously think that this on-going debacle on the planetary status of Pluto instigated by the International Astronomical Union has only brought good to the existence of Pluto and of the science of astronomy in general. <BR/>An argument of Pluto's planetary status between us in the know would only be like "preaching to the choir". I mean since that unfortunate dethronement of Pluto as a bona fide planet by the IAU back in 2006 only made Pluto a somewhat regular part of daily casual conservation to "Joe Public and his constituents". Even if the hotel heiress Paris Hilton had not yet publicly confessed on where she stands on this whole Pluto versus IAU debacle. <BR/>Because of this, I inadvertently written a 1,000 or so paged book about Pluto's on-going planetary status debacle. Which over 90% of which centers on the discovery of the Kuiper Belt back in 1992 and Clyde Tombaugh's last televised appearance before he passed away defending Pluto's status as a true-blue planet to the unfortunate 2006 dethronement by the IAU -though no means final. <BR/>I too believe that Pluto is a planet, but we should do our part to spread awareness to the general public on what the hoopla is about.<BR/>Please watch this blogsite for a sampler on my Pluto book.VaneSSahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09903333054433459032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6929681576205319273.post-71625498188653243872009-01-11T10:44:00.000-08:002009-01-11T10:44:00.000-08:00We don't need to discover any new Kuiper Belt Obje...We don't need to discover any new Kuiper Belt Objects to reinstate Pluto's planet status. It is well known that unlike most KBOs, Pluto is spherical, meaning it has enough self gravity to pull itself into a round shape, a condition known as hydrostatic equilibrium. This makes Pluto geologically differentiated just like the larger planets and unlike inert, shapeless asteroids and KBOs. What we need is more planetary scientists, including those who aren't IAU members, to be heard and given the opportunity to provide their much needed input so this demotion gets overturned.Laurel Kornfeldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02387883186244337619noreply@blogger.com