Philosophy
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 the mega-sized mobile—Pluto was missing. When the New York Times mentioned the missing piece, people started saying, “Hey! What gives?” Six years later, Pluto was officially stripped of its planetary status by the International Astronomical Union, demoting it to “dwarf planet.”
The biggest brouhaha, though, came from teams of elementary school students, who flooded Director Neil deGrasse Tyson’s desk with hate mail. Here’s what some of them had to say, loosely following the five stages of grief.
You are missing planet Pluto. Please make a model of it. This is what it looks like. It is a planet.
Love, Will Galmot (Seven years old)
I think Pluto is a planet. Why do you think Pluto is no longer a planet? I do not like your anser!!! Pluto is my faveret planet!!! You are going to have to take all of the books away and change them.
Pluto is a planet!!!!!!!
Your friend, Emerson York
Your friend, Madeline Trost
Love! Siddiq (Eight years old)
- 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...
- Pluto Not Fitting Definition
As I have said before, Pluto can remain on the current planetary list for ordinary consideration and would probably be reclassified as a non-planet to suit the efficacy of an astronomical definition. The guy/gal on the street need not bother about the...
- Tyson, Weintraub, Tombaugh & Pluto
Clyde Tombaugh Alan Boyle, MSNBC's science reporter, discusses Neil deGrasse Tyson's book The Pluto Files and David Weintraub's book Is Pluto a Planet? There is also an interview with Clyde Tombaugh [including video clips]. MSNBC Tyson's...
- "the Pluto Files" By Neil Degrasse Tyson
The Pluto Files by Neil deGrasse Tyson ISBN-10: 0393065200 ISBN-13: 978-0393065206 Well, Mr. Tyson may be stepping on some toes here. A review by Manuela Hoelterhoff, "Pluto's Enemy Speaks; Lady Comet Hunter: Manuela Hoelterhoff", appeared at...
Philosophy
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 the mega-sized mobile—Pluto was missing. When the New York Times mentioned the missing piece, people started saying, “Hey! What gives?” Six years later, Pluto was officially stripped of its planetary status by the International Astronomical Union, demoting it to “dwarf planet.”
The biggest brouhaha, though, came from teams of elementary school students, who flooded Director Neil deGrasse Tyson’s desk with hate mail. Here’s what some of them had to say, loosely following the five stages of grief.
Dear Natural History Museum,
Love, Will Galmot (Seven years old)
Dear Mr. Tyson,
I think Pluto is a planet. Why do you think Pluto is no longer a planet? I do not like your anser!!! Pluto is my faveret planet!!! You are going to have to take all of the books away and change them.
Pluto is a planet!!!!!!!
Your friend, Emerson York
Dear scientest,
What do you call Pluto if its not a planet anymore? If you make it a planet agian all the science books will be right. Do poeple live on Pluto? If there are poeple who live there they won’t exist. Why can’t Pluto be a planet? If it’s small doesn’t mean that it doen’t have to be a planet anymore. Some poeple like Pluto. If it doen’t exist then they don’t have a favorite planet. Please write back, but not in cursive because I can’t read in cursive.
Your friend, Madeline Trost
Dear Dr. Neil Tysen degrasse,
At first, remember all of those kids that send you bad letters? Well, I want to apolijize all the things that we were wrong about. We’re sorry about giving you mean letters saying we love Pluto but not you. I’m very sorry. It’ll be ok.
Taylor (Seven years old)
At first, remember all of those kids that send you bad letters? Well, I want to apolijize all the things that we were wrong about. We’re sorry about giving you mean letters saying we love Pluto but not you. I’m very sorry. It’ll be ok.
Taylor (Seven years old)
Dear Dr. Neil Degrasse Tyson,
I know how you feel. We feel the same about Pluto not being a planet. I’m to but we just have to get over it—that’s science. We to learn about science. Science will make you smart!
Love! Siddiq (Eight years old)
- 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...
- Pluto Not Fitting Definition
As I have said before, Pluto can remain on the current planetary list for ordinary consideration and would probably be reclassified as a non-planet to suit the efficacy of an astronomical definition. The guy/gal on the street need not bother about the...
- Tyson, Weintraub, Tombaugh & Pluto
Clyde Tombaugh Alan Boyle, MSNBC's science reporter, discusses Neil deGrasse Tyson's book The Pluto Files and David Weintraub's book Is Pluto a Planet? There is also an interview with Clyde Tombaugh [including video clips]. MSNBC Tyson's...
- "the Pluto Files" By Neil Degrasse Tyson
The Pluto Files by Neil deGrasse Tyson ISBN-10: 0393065200 ISBN-13: 978-0393065206 Well, Mr. Tyson may be stepping on some toes here. A review by Manuela Hoelterhoff, "Pluto's Enemy Speaks; Lady Comet Hunter: Manuela Hoelterhoff", appeared at...