The Planet Formerly Known as Pluto

When the International Astronomical Union's 2500 members voted to demote Pluto from our ninth planet to a founding member of the subclass of dwarf planets, I was initially annoyed. Over the ensuing months I have reconsidered my annoyance. While it is true that the solar system order has changed on one level of classified thinking, it is also true that this change is for the betterment of our under standing of the vast vacuum that surrounds this blue paradisaical marble in space. It pompted a discussion about the solar system with my oldest son and that is always a good thing. Hence, I too have joined the club of folks who now recognise the planet formerly known as Pluto, as a planet no more but as a dwarf indeed. Especially, in the light of new observations that show us just how lucky Lowell was when he discovered the large frozen rock of Pluto.

here is an interesting article that confirms Pluto's place as the first of the Kuiper Belt objects. Eris is actually larger than Pluto and in the coming months and years the other objects being tracked will also emerge from the blackness and who knows maybe one of them will be even bigger still.