Philosophy
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 this celestial body other than the fact there's a Disney dog with the same name. And yet, when Pluto was demoted to the status of a dwarf planet, the general public, politicians and even children started protesting...
In the following documentary, Neil deGrasse Tyson traces the history leading up to the discovery of this controversial object and explains some of the points of contention that have divided astronomers trying to decide how exactly to define what it means for something to be a planet.
The best part by far, however, is the very moving and admirable story of Clyde Tombaugh, the humble man who fulfilled Percival Lowell's dream of discovering "Planet X" and gave us Pluto.
For my international friends who can't watch Hulu, see if this will work:
And that stained glass is just excellent...
Check out more documentaries, more space stuff, or more of Neil DeGrasse Tyson.
.
- 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...
- "living Popular Scientist" Poll
Who is your choice for living "popular" scientist? Brian Greene...0 Freeman Dyson...3 Lawrence Krauss...0 Neil deGrasse Tyson...2 Stephen Hawking...3 Somewhat surprised. I suppose Hawking would lead...he is quite an icon. I expected Krauss to be at the...
- "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...
- 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...
Philosophy
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 this celestial body other than the fact there's a Disney dog with the same name. And yet, when Pluto was demoted to the status of a dwarf planet, the general public, politicians and even children started protesting...In the following documentary, Neil deGrasse Tyson traces the history leading up to the discovery of this controversial object and explains some of the points of contention that have divided astronomers trying to decide how exactly to define what it means for something to be a planet.
The best part by far, however, is the very moving and admirable story of Clyde Tombaugh, the humble man who fulfilled Percival Lowell's dream of discovering "Planet X" and gave us Pluto.
For my international friends who can't watch Hulu, see if this will work:
Watch the full episode. See more NOVA.
And that stained glass is just excellent...
Check out more documentaries, more space stuff, or more of Neil DeGrasse Tyson.
.
- 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...
- "living Popular Scientist" Poll
Who is your choice for living "popular" scientist? Brian Greene...0 Freeman Dyson...3 Lawrence Krauss...0 Neil deGrasse Tyson...2 Stephen Hawking...3 Somewhat surprised. I suppose Hawking would lead...he is quite an icon. I expected Krauss to be at the...
- "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...
- 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...