Once upon a time there were NINE planets orbiting around our the Sun. All but Mercury and Venus have planets. That is right folks, Mercury and Venus do not have moons. And two planets have dogs. Earth and Pluto.
Which brings us to a question. Yes, it is time for the 49th of 50 Burning Questions!
Until recently we had NINE, count em, NINE planets in our solar system. Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto.
Then somebody got a bee in their bonnet (or up their ass) and said Pluto was NOT a planet. Pluto is small and at the edge of the solar system – our last planet. It has an irregular rotation pattern around the sun. It is just an odd little rock out there in space. But it has moons. Yes, even tiny Pluto has moons.
We only have one moon rotating around Earth but Pluto, bless it’s little celestial heart has FIVE MOONS. Five, count the: Styx, Nix, Kerberos, Hydra, and Charon.
Pluto (minor planet designation: 134340 Pluto) is a dwarf planet in the Kuiper belt, a ring of bodies beyond Neptune.
But in August 2006 the International Astronomical Union (IAU) downgraded the status of Pluto to that of “dwarf planet.” This means that from they only considered the rocky worlds of the inner Solar System and the gas giants of the outer system planets.
Well screw that, right Pluto?
Kids all over this Earth of our were outraged. What? Pluto IS a Planet they cried.
But a band of scientists said, no. NO. Well, maybe. NO. We all say NO.
It makes me think of that song that isn’t really related to this but maybe.
But not really. But it sucked. But were they right? Was that irregular orbit and small size worthy of being a planet along with gassy giants and a beautiful watery planet called Earth? Was it? Or is Pluto just a dog?
Now Pluto is back on the up and up and by most considered a planet again. Some just call it a Dwarf Planet, but hey, who says size matters. Pluto has moons and an atmosphere. It might have space dogs living on it for all we know. We really don’t know a lot about it.
One of the most charming things about Pluto is that there is a shape on it that could either be a heart, or Micky’s dog Pluto.
Pluto is extremely small. Take a look at this comparison of Pluto, Earth, and our Moon. Wow.
So rather than have me continue on this rather dry, and silly conversation, you need to just answer the question.
Burning Question #49: Is Pluto a Planet?
Feel free to add more to the conversation in the comments below. Talk about anything you want including planets, space travel, science fiction, Vampires, ghosts, rocket ships, your latest romance, love letters, cats, your favorite Disney characters, or anything you want. Let’s get this party rolling.
And I’ll see you next Saturday for the final, the 50th, Burning Question.
~ Juliette aka Vampire Maman
I learned Pluto IS a planet and what was good decades ago is STILL good. *growl*
We steadfastly cling to what we were taught and what we learned for ourselves when we were young. I will go to my grave believing that Pluto is a planet… regardless of what any white haired weirdo working at NASA thinks. Kids today who are learning the new solar system will all think we’re nuts and behind in the times for thinking there’s a ninth planet. The Pluto debate is human nature in a nutshell…