Monday February 20, 2017
Make Pluto a planet again, NASA scientists argue
This image of Pluto was taken from NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft on July 13, 2015. Now the scientists behind the mission want to redefine what is considered a planet so that Pluto can again be classified as one. (NASA via Reuters)
Some NASA scientists have joined together to propose a new definition for a planet that would let Pluto back into the fold.
It’s been more than a decade since Pluto got demoted from planet to dwarf planet, thanks to a controversial decision by the International Astronomical Union (IAU).
As far as planetary geologist Kirby Runyon is concerned, letting astronomers who “mainly study stars, galaxies and black holes” define planets is ridiculous.