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Apr 02 2009
Video Feature: Astrophysicist Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson on the Lonely Status of Pluto
About eight years ago, new studies a debates by the International Astronomical Union determined the dwarf planet of Pluto had too many icy bodies surrounding it. In the following one-hour and nineteen minutes worth of presentation by FORA.tv and the Los Angeles Public Library, astrophysicist Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson discusses his recent book on demotion of Pluto entitled The Pluto Files: The Rise and Fall of America’s Favorite Planet while also taking part in the blame. Since Tyson’s Planetarium’s unofficial declaration of Pluto as a “dwarf planet” third-grader Plutonian purests have protested and their school’s teachers have in turn bemoaned the inevitable rethinking of so many seemingly indomitable mnemonic phrases involving one’s mother, a girl named sally or anything any kid might have devised to make his homework a bit livelier in between watching cartoons and playing baseball in the neighbor’s yard. But Tyson maintains he doesn’t care what it’s called for the sake of calm nerves and happy science nerds all over the world.
Note: The interview is long so you may want to skim through it.
Wax for the stars!
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Hey - great article - have to admit, I was somewhat taken aback when this was done. I remember the book “1984″ (Doublespeak) - Science is about facts, this move is somewhat political, somewhat agreement on definitions - so I left it the box “who cares?” Great blog - keep up the good work.