Philosophy
If you haven't checked out Neil deGrasse Tyson's best-selling book The Pluto Files, or heard one of his presentations explaining why Pluto got demoted to dwarf planet--or promoted to king of the Kuiper Belt, depending on how you look at it--you should check it out. The story of all the hate-mail he's received from children is worth it all by itself :)
In the meantime, though, here is a short but fascinating introduction by NASA to the history of our scientific understanding of this strange and distant body about which we have been slowly learning since its discovery only 80 years ago.
And if the talk about Percival Lowell and the Mars canals reminded you of Carl Sagan's description of that set of events, why not revisit that fascinating story?
.
- Is Pluto A Planet?
A few days ago we saw that Joe the Plumber (representing the view of thousands or millions of Americans) prefers the Bible to science books because science books go through constant revisions while the Bible contains eternal, unchanging truth. Of course,...
- The Pluto Files
People, Americans especially, have a love relationship with Pluto that borders on the bizarre. Sure, it was discovered by an American, and we like to be proud of our own, but there's not much (that we know of) that's particularly interesting about...
- Neil Degrasse Tyson Smacked By Kids Over Pluto's Status
"6 Angry Letters Kids Sent Neil deGrasse Tyson About Pluto" by Lucas Reilly August 4th, 2013 Mental Floss In 2000, the Rose Center for Earth and Space opened with a giant model of the solar system as its centerpiece. But something was different about...
- Nova's "pluto Files"
Tonight on most public broadcasting stations NOVA will offer a program entitled Pluto Files. Since its discovery in 1930, Pluto has held a warm place in the public imagination. So, when the American Museum of Natural History's Hayden Planetarium...
- "pluto A Planet" Poll
Should Pluto be considered a planet? Yes....9 [90%] No....1 [10%] Just a guess, but I would bet that those voted "Yes" are lay persons and not bona fide astronomers. Such controversy. Simply put...if the astronomers wish to redefine the characteristics...
Philosophy
Changing Views of Pluto
If you haven't checked out Neil deGrasse Tyson's best-selling book The Pluto Files, or heard one of his presentations explaining why Pluto got demoted to dwarf planet--or promoted to king of the Kuiper Belt, depending on how you look at it--you should check it out. The story of all the hate-mail he's received from children is worth it all by itself :)In the meantime, though, here is a short but fascinating introduction by NASA to the history of our scientific understanding of this strange and distant body about which we have been slowly learning since its discovery only 80 years ago.
And if the talk about Percival Lowell and the Mars canals reminded you of Carl Sagan's description of that set of events, why not revisit that fascinating story?
.
- Is Pluto A Planet?
A few days ago we saw that Joe the Plumber (representing the view of thousands or millions of Americans) prefers the Bible to science books because science books go through constant revisions while the Bible contains eternal, unchanging truth. Of course,...
- The Pluto Files
People, Americans especially, have a love relationship with Pluto that borders on the bizarre. Sure, it was discovered by an American, and we like to be proud of our own, but there's not much (that we know of) that's particularly interesting about...
- Neil Degrasse Tyson Smacked By Kids Over Pluto's Status
"6 Angry Letters Kids Sent Neil deGrasse Tyson About Pluto" by Lucas Reilly August 4th, 2013 Mental Floss In 2000, the Rose Center for Earth and Space opened with a giant model of the solar system as its centerpiece. But something was different about...
- Nova's "pluto Files"
Tonight on most public broadcasting stations NOVA will offer a program entitled Pluto Files. Since its discovery in 1930, Pluto has held a warm place in the public imagination. So, when the American Museum of Natural History's Hayden Planetarium...
- "pluto A Planet" Poll
Should Pluto be considered a planet? Yes....9 [90%] No....1 [10%] Just a guess, but I would bet that those voted "Yes" are lay persons and not bona fide astronomers. Such controversy. Simply put...if the astronomers wish to redefine the characteristics...