Comments on: Poor Pluto

By: Beth Tilston

Beth Tilston — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 12:44:15 +0000

I think it got downgraded because there are lots of other Pluto-sized objects fairly near it. Having just done some internet research I have discovered that Pluto was one of the icy bodies in the Kuiper belt. Poor Pluto, just a big asteroid…

By: Cheryl Colan

Cheryl Colan — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 06:16:21 +0000

Ah, I did not provide enough context. This donation area is at Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, and all contributions go to the Lowell Observatory to fund their astronomical research. Lowell Observatory is where Pluto was discovered. They’re just making clever use of the recent controversy about whether Pluto is a planet to generate additional funds. I believe “dwarf planet” is one of the proposed things to call Pluto instead of “planet.”

By: Corinne

Corinne — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 05:34:07 +0000

Interesting. I don’t think it’s very fair to poor Pluto to have it’s planet designation taken away just for being a little undersize.
Curious - where does the money go when it’s over? A good cause I hope.

By: Robert Croma

Robert Croma — Fri, 09 Nov 2007 11:19:42 +0000

Since I was a boy it’s always been a planet. I wonder how they’re going to prove otherwise. And I always thought Pluto was our smallest planet anyway. So what’s with the dwarf category? Unless they mean dwarves are likely to dwell there. Which would be interesting. But I’ve heard it’s very cold. Maybe with those dollars I could build a ship and go and see for myself. Can’t possibly take any longer than driving on the roads of central London.