Planets have feelings too

Which is why I feel kinda sorry for ole Pluto here:

PRAGUE, Czech Republic (AP) -- Leading astronomers declared Thursday that Pluto is no longer a planet under historic new guidelines that downsize the solar system from nine planets to eight.

After a tumultuous week of clashing over the essence of the cosmos, the International Astronomical Union stripped Pluto of the planetary status it has held since its discovery in 1930. The new definition of what is -- and isn't -- a planet fills a centuries-old black hole for scientists who have labored since Copernicus without one.

Although astronomers applauded after the vote, Jocelyn Bell Burnell -- a specialist in neutron stars from Northern Ireland who oversaw the proceedings -- urged those who might be "quite disappointed" to look on the bright side.

"It could be argued that we are creating an umbrella called 'planet' under which the dwarf planets exist," she said, drawing laughter by waving a stuffed Pluto of Walt Disney fame beneath a real umbrella.

Planetary identity crises. I love it.

Comments

[Jason]

I think this is a simply case of Venus envy.

I'll be here all week. Try the veal.

[David Thayer]

Next on the list is the Dog Star.

[Philip Hawley]

With all this attention focused on Pluto, I hope someone's keeping an eye on those pesky Martians.

[John Rickards]

I can hear the sounds of astrologers wailing as they desperately try to figure out what this means for them.

[Keith Raffel]

Does Pluto have the right of appeal? What happens to the mnemonic "My Very Educated Mother Just Showed Us Nine Planets?" Now Mom just showed us nine and we leave unstated nine what?

[Tribe]

Did they ever make a decision on the B-52s' "Planet Claire?"

[Akrid]

Pluto Isnt a planet at all, its a massive space station called the death star!