Crimson Crux

A few minutes ago, I just watched CNN report this historic ‘upheaval’ (is it too strong a word?) in astronomy and the whole of science, and I’m now convinced of one thing: I am getting old. While I went to grade school to learn that there are 9 planets in the solar system, my kids will be memorizing the number 8.

Many astronomers have said it was inevitable, while loyalists have pleaded for the status quo…and now it’s settled. Pluto has been stripped of planetary status by the International Astronomical Union; August 24, 2006 is now a date that will live in infamy glory as the day when the solar system was downsized.

While people with only a passing interest in the affairs of planets might regard the development with a quick shrug of the shoulders, rest assured millions have spent countless hours and gallons of sweat and saliva debating the matter. My generation was taught to treat Pluto’s inclusion into the solar system with some caveat — it’s too small, it might be an asteroid, it and its moon Charon are actually double-planets, its orbit is blah blah. But Pluto was still Pluto, the ninth planet.

I should’ve seen it coming — the way things are would quickly give way to the way things were, after all, this is the field of science. Heck, I was shaken out of my pants when I learned Pluto had three moons instead of one (with Nix and Hydra being the other two)!

If you’re begging for more info on this heavenly controversy (it is, literally), you can check out the Yahoo! News article, or the updated Wikipedia entry for the erstwhile planet. While you’re at it, watch out for the word “Xena”; believe it or not, that celestial body nearly became the 10th planet.

Anyhow, scientists and laymen might fight over Pluto’s status but there’ll always be the great people who…will make fun light of the matter. Let’s be thankful for them. Head over to Drink at Work and Go Comics for a pair of witty takes. Poor Pluto, elitist Earthlings!