David H. Levy's Evening Stars: Pluto's second chance

EDMUND SYLVIS from ARIZONA said:

I originally read this article shortly after I received my copy of Astronomy Magazine back in September 2010... and I was mildly annoyed that, "... if you plan to build a home in New Mexico's Pluto Park area, at Rancho Hidalgo, where Tombaugh's 16-inch telescope still points skyward, you must sign a contract supporting Pluto's status as a major planet.". Secondly, third and fifth grade elementary student's opinion on whether or not Pluto should be "reinstated" as a planet, has no real scientific significance at all. However, after re-reading the article on the web, I guess I missed the point. You did say that your opinion had nothing to do with _science_ , and I also missed the point about your friendship with Pluto's discoverer, Clyde Tombaugh (1906-1997). So I guess I understand your feelings about the subject.

I, myself, am personally glad that Pluto is no longer classified as a major planet. Just as Ceres was correctly "demoted" many years ago, and just as Eris was correctly _not_ labeled as a major planet when discovered. Just as all the other Kuiper Belt objects that are not and will not be labeled as major planets - and let's not forget Vesta either... or for that matter Ida with its moon Dactyl. Let's face it, either all of the asteroids and all of the Kuiper Belt objects are major planets or none of them are. I sincerely believe that Pluto is simply another Kuiper Belt object just as Neptune's moon Triton was very likely a captured Kuiper Belt object. If Triton hadn't been captured by Neptune, it would probably be named Pluto.
The scientific classification of Pluto as a dwarf planet, IMHO, is very generous. How about Kuiperoid?

Let me make one thing clear before anyone plans a lynching for me. Just because Pluto is no longer considered a major planet, does not take away from the incredible feat that Tombaugh accomplished. I've been an avid amateur astronomer for 28 years and a stargazer for about 39 years and I haven't had the privilege of discovering anything new in this grand universe we live in. Embarrassed as I am to admit it, Pluto is the only planet I've not personally viewed. Even though Pluto is no longer considered a major planet, it is still a planet. Clyde Tombaugh is the discoverer of the first Kuiper Belt object long before anyone even knew of such a belt. Perhaps it should be called the Tombaugh-Kuiper Belt?

Keep on gazing!

-Ed

JOY GEORGEDAVIS from NEW YORK said:

I do not have scientific theory behind me, all I have is nostalgia, but, in my eye, Pluto remains a planet. And, it hurts me to read that it's discoverer, Clyde Tombaugh lived out his years worrying about being discredited for his phenomenal discovery.

We may be able to say that it is far different from the other 8, for sure, however, it is naive of us to have ever believed that Pluto was the last member of this vast solar system. May it be that the astronomers were too lazy to name them all after the other pluto-like worlds were discovered or what...but, bottom line, Pluto does exist, and we may discover later what it's significance to our Solar System actually is.

The problem is that when we use the word 'demote', we automatically transfer it to believe it has decreased in value. This is probably why we were so outraged at the IAU's decision.

I can't control what the bigwigs say. But, I can say that hearing what happened to Pluto renewed my interest in amateur astronomy with a vengence. Before, I was sort of an armchair astronomer...I really didn't know how accessible astronomy was to my world. Didn't know that I can use binoculars to look at the wonders of the Universe. Since hearing this, I discovered that it doesn't have to become a major expense to get into this hobby. And, since then, my enthusiasm has drawn so many interested parties to astronomy as a past time. All of this because of Pluto. So, that tiny iced planet will be a part of me until the end, because as small as Pluto is, it has opened my world to the mysteries and wonderment of the Universe. Thanks, Pluto...