[_] [OT] That darn Pluto no longer planet
Jim Fanning
jim at sugarmouse.com
Thu Aug 24 23:03:30 BST 2006
>
> I'm sure it's a US budget deficit reduction measure. It means NASA
> don't have to send a probe to Pluto anymore. They forgot to factor
> in the cost of retrieving Pioneer 10 and 11 to update the Gold
> Plaques, though.
>
> Tom
>
It's a sensible decision, but a bit sad in some ways. By raising the bar to
qualify as a planet, it's pretty certain that we'll only ever have eight
planets.
A bit less mystery in the world tonight.
Jim (armchair astronomer)