Pluto was discovered only in 1930 and has been considered a planet for many decades, and its demotion has caused a lot of debates both in scientific circles and in general public. The process of demotion conducted by the International Astronomical Union was seen by many as unfair because the number of voters was deemed too small to take a final decision on such a controversial issue, especially that some suggestions that did not pass were supported by nearly a half of the voters (Plait, 2006). While many scientists view the planetary status of Pluto as a part of the modern culture that should be preserved, other specialists, such as Neil deGrasse Tyson, were expressing hope back in 1999 that it would be demoted anytime soon, as the physical characteristics and behavior of the object, including its eccentric orbit, were too different from other planets to be simply regarded as one of them for cultural reasons (“Pluto, Eris, and the dwarf planets”, 2008; Tyson, 1999). Regardless of what the future holds for Pluto and its status, this discussion was certainly useful both for scientist and general public. First of all, science is advancing each year, as new technologies emerge and bring new possibilities, and for the sake of scientific accuracy, such flexibility in terms of changing statuses of the objects is necessary. Secondly, these discussions are not empty, and, to the contrary, they are full of meaning for the development of astronomy. As scientists clash in arguments regarding Pluto, they try to support their views with credible evidence by conducting researches and observations, which are only beneficial for the science, as new concepts and theories are born out of these discussions. The usefulness of these discussions for the public is evident, as well, because it boosts interest to astronomy and makes people wonder why the object was demoted. This question nourishes people’s interest in the solar system, in general, and in what is considered a planet and why, in particular. These discussions, thus, promote education and knowledge of more than only astronomy, but also related sciences, which only helps encourage interest in this and many other topics.
References
Plait, P. (2006, August 24). Breaking news– Pluto not a planet! Retrieved December 27, 2014, from http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2006/08/24/breaking-news-pluto-not-a-planet/#.VJ9kad2UI
Pluto, Eris, and the dwarf planets of the outer solar system. (2008, July 9). Retrieved December 27, 2014, from http://www.youtube.com/v/ddC3AKJXolk
Tyson, N. (1999, February 1). Pluto's honor. Retrieved December 27, 2014, from http://www.haydenplanetarium.org/tyson/read/1999/02/01/plutos-honor
