Comments on: The Trials of Pluto http://www.sciencentral.com/video/2009/05/12/the-trials-of-pluto/ Making Sense of Science Mon, 15 Mar 2010 01:51:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: The Federation of Galaxy Explorers http://www.sciencentral.com/video/2009/05/12/the-trials-of-pluto/#comment-1842 The Federation of Galaxy Explorers Fri, 15 May 2009 15:49:36 +0000 http://www.sciencentral.com/video/?p=394#comment-1842 Join Apollo 11 Astronaut Buzz Aldrin, Bill Nye "The Science Guy" and a host of others for the 5th annual Galaxy Ball. Dance and dine on June 6th at the Arlington Westin Hotel when the Federation of Galaxy Explorers hosts the Galaxy Ball, an annual gala to recognize leaders in the space industry, exceptional member achievements, and our volunteers. Galaxy Explorers is a non-profit organization that seeks to inspire and educate kids in space related science and engineering through year-round programs, special community events and summer camps. This year is a special one as we celebrate the International Year of Astronomy recognizing the 400th anniversary since Galileo turned his telescope on the heavens. Join our Master of Ceremonies Mr. Lon Rains and Mr. Bill Nye "The Science Guy" for a wonderful Tuscan evening under the stars! Join Apollo 11 Astronaut Buzz Aldrin, Bill Nye “The Science Guy” and a host of others for the 5th annual Galaxy Ball. Dance and dine on June 6th at the Arlington Westin Hotel when the Federation of Galaxy Explorers hosts the Galaxy Ball, an annual gala to recognize leaders in the space industry, exceptional member achievements, and our volunteers. Galaxy Explorers is a non-profit organization that seeks to inspire and educate kids in space related science and engineering through year-round programs, special community events and summer camps.

This year is a special one as we celebrate the International Year of Astronomy recognizing the 400th anniversary since Galileo turned his telescope on the heavens. Join our Master of Ceremonies Mr. Lon Rains and Mr. Bill Nye “The Science Guy” for a wonderful Tuscan evening under the stars!

]]> By: HI http://www.sciencentral.com/video/2009/05/12/the-trials-of-pluto/#comment-1831 HI Wed, 13 May 2009 17:53:24 +0000 http://www.sciencentral.com/video/?p=394#comment-1831 Thank You For The Information Thank You For The Information

]]> By: Eliene http://www.sciencentral.com/video/2009/05/12/the-trials-of-pluto/#comment-1825 Eliene Wed, 13 May 2009 00:06:10 +0000 http://www.sciencentral.com/video/?p=394#comment-1825 Interesting - I love Pluto and happy to hear that Pluto's plumpness may be the undoing of his undoing! THanks! Interesting - I love Pluto and happy to hear that Pluto’s plumpness may be the undoing of his undoing! THanks!

]]> By: Laurel Kornfeld http://www.sciencentral.com/video/2009/05/12/the-trials-of-pluto/#comment-1824 Laurel Kornfeld Tue, 12 May 2009 23:00:58 +0000 http://www.sciencentral.com/video/?p=394#comment-1824 It should be noted that the IAU’s controversial demotion of Pluto is very likely not the last word on the subject and in fact represents only one interpretation in an ongoing debate. Only four percent of the IAU voted on this, and most are not planetary scientists. Their decision was immediately opposed in a formal petition by hundreds of professional astronomers led by Dr. Alan Stern, Principal Investigator of NASA’s New Horizons mission to Pluto. Stern and like-minded scientists favor a broader planet definition that includes any non-self-luminous spheroidal body in orbit around a star. The spherical part is important because objects become spherical when they attain a state known as hydrostatic equilibrium, meaning they are large enough for their own gravity to pull them into a round shape. This is a characteristic of planets and not of shapeless asteroids and Kuiper Belt Objects. Pluto meets this criterion and is therefore a planet. It should be noted that the IAU’s controversial demotion of Pluto is very likely not the last word on the subject and in fact represents only one interpretation in an ongoing debate. Only four percent of the IAU voted on this, and most are not planetary scientists. Their decision was immediately opposed in a formal petition by hundreds of professional astronomers led by Dr. Alan Stern, Principal Investigator of NASA’s New Horizons mission to Pluto. Stern and like-minded scientists favor a broader planet definition that includes any non-self-luminous spheroidal body in orbit around a star. The spherical part is important because objects become spherical when they attain a state known as hydrostatic equilibrium, meaning they are large enough for their own gravity to pull them into a round shape. This is a characteristic of planets and not of shapeless asteroids and Kuiper Belt Objects. Pluto meets this criterion and is therefore a planet.

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