Pluto’s Status Upgraded

With the imminent arrival of the NASA’s New Horizons space probe, public interest in our solar systems furthest “planet” has peaked. For decades, following the 1930 discovery of the planet Pluto, school children have made whimsical paper mache models of our solar system with nine planets. That all changed in 2006 when the  International Astronomical Union (IAU) down graded Pluto’s lofty status to “dwarf planet” placing it along side such unknowns as 2060 Chiron, 90428 Orcus, and Tom’s Awesome World 2004ORa.

The fall of Pluto from lofty planet status made sense given its small size and eccentric orbit in relation to other objects orbiting our sun. Most planetary scientists and astronomers agreed, “it was a weird little rock with a weirdo orbit.”

In a surprise reversal a new category of Plutoid planetary objects was created today with the newly rehabilitated Pluto as its flagship member. From now on they will be classified as “Planettes”, clearly referencing a dinette or kitchenette, denoting a diminutive dining area or breakfast nook, or a small cooking space of less the 7.4m² (80ft²) floor space, respectively.

Pluto’s eccentric orbit

Artist vision of some sweet ramps on the surface of Pluto

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