Size matters
Look, I am as much in favor of scientific and technical precision in terminology as the next guy, but scientists should learn something from lawyers: a terminology that confuses more than it clarifies has failed in its function. In law, we have both what is called a Rule of Adverse possession (which states that if a squatter is in open, notorious, unchallenged and continuous possession for 20 years, he gets title) and a thing called the Grandfather Clause ( which allows that rights under the previous statute cannot be lost when the statute is amended). In other words, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
While there is nothing wrong with a definition of 'minor planets' that identifies smaller and eccentric bodies like Sedna or Ceres, Pluto has been a planet since 1930.
It is an Ex Post Facto law to strip it of its dignity; I would call it unconstitutional! I am an American, so I say, let's put together a class action suit and sue on behalf of Pluto. (If the plaintiffs in ACLU v NSA have standing, anyone has standing to sue on any hypothetical case).
Now, if the international conference of scientists with too much time on their hands wanted to rename the body from Pluto, to, say, YUGGOTH, that would be cool.
I'm with John C. Wright on this. This is pure discrimination we should at least make Pluto an honorary Planet. Why hasn't the Pluto Deformation League responded to this 'minor planet' slander? This is demotion without probable cause. I am tempted to join with Dale and become an Old Solorist.
Anathema Sit!
That describes my view of the new planet-counting proposal offered at the International Astronomy Union's General Assembly this week.
If it passes, I hereby declare I will become an Old Solarist, and acknowledge nine--and only nine--planets.
Twelve is right out.
Henceforth, anyone who tries to call Ceres a planet or makes reference to "plutons" will be cast into the outer darkness (a/k/a the Oort Cloud).
So let it be written, so let it be done.
First them came for Pluto, but I did not speak out because I was not a Plutonian. What planet is next on this solar system size slippery astronomical slope?
Known as 
Does that mean you aren't going to participate in my contest to come up with a new mnemonic for the newly decreased solar system?
We need something better than Stephen Cobert's "My Very Educated Mother Just Said Uh-oh No Pluto".
Sounds like a Chestertonian idea:
...I do not believe in being dehumanised in order to study humanity. I do not believe in dwelling upon the distances that are supposed to dwarf the world; I think there is even something a trifle vulgar about this idea of trying to rebuke spirit by size. And as the first idea is not feasible, that of making the earth a strange planet so as to make it significant, I will not stoop to the other trick of making it a small planet in order to make it insignificant. I would rather insist that we do not even know that it is a planet at all, in the sense in which we know that it is a place; and a very extraordinary place too.
[GKC, The Everlasting Man CW2:155]
Demoting Pluto - what a waste of time! The next thing they'll be demoting hydrogen from the periodic table...
It's funny to think this was all argued about some 200 years ago when Ceres was discovered!
Hee hee.
Then, shalt thou count to nine. No more. No less. nine shalt be the planets thou shalt count, and the number of the planets shall be nine. ten shalt thou not count, nor either count thou eight, excepting that thou then proceed to nine. Twelve is right out. Once the number nine, being the ninth number, be reached, then, lobbest thou thy Holy Hand Grenade of Old Solarism towards thy foe, who, being naughty in My sight, shall snuff it.'
I am in agreement that Pluto should remain a planet based on the writings of the 20th century astronomy fathers (despite what I said at Jimmy Akin's blog). I guess that makes me a solar scripturist
"let's put together a class action suit and sue on behalf of Pluto"
Sue on behalf of Pluto? Pluto?? I don't believe it! You're going to sue on behalf of Mickey Mouse's DOG??
(Apologies to all those who are too young to remember Jessica Tate!)
Pluto is no planet. It's not on the ecliptic! It is a hunk of rock and ice, a refugee from the Oort cloud! If it got closer to the Sun, it would grow a tail. It is a glorified comet!
Sorry, I know this upsets many, but it is true.
The thing that amuses me about the whole "Pluto no longer a planet" is this: nothing physical about the actual Planet/Dwarf planet called "Pluto" has changed. In that sense, I don't know why people are so worked up because "Pluto is no longer a planet!" It's the same "whatever" it's always been, just scientists have decided to call it something different.
At the same time, however, it's things like this that make it hard to respect the scientific community. When science is done correctly, research drives scientific knowledge. The way it's done today, however, consensus drives scientific "knowledge".
Look at what happened: the exact SAME data have been available to scientists for almost 80 years on this matter, but the scientists think that they can change our understanding of the nature of the thing simply by changing the scientfic "consensus"? And scientists wonder why they have a hard time convincing people of "the greenhouse effect".
Fundamentally, it's one of the errors of modernity: if enough scientists believe it, it's true. No new evidence has been collected, but still they try and change the nature of the thing.
It's like they think that scientific consensus can change the nature of reality, rather than vice versa. Unfortunately, many people believe this on issues where it really matters- some people think that scientists can demote an unborn human to mere "tissue".
So let's make everything clear. If they want to rename Pluto a "Dwarf Planet" just to clean up their filing cabinets, that's fine, but don't let anyone- be he in favor of or opposed to the change- think that this in any way changes the fundamental nature of the body called "Pluto". It's the same thing it's always been (whatever that was), whatever the scientists may say or have said. Remember, scientific consensus is NOT the arbiter of reality, and it's DEFINITELY not the arbiter of Truth.
This is the biggest public diss since St. Christopher lost his spot on the calendar.