Is Pluto a planet: Storm erupts after NASA official’s comments

Fans of Pluto were in mourning after it lost its planetary status. But now an intriguing statement from a NASA official has renewed interest.

Should Pluto be officially redesignated as the ninth planet? NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine thinks so, reigniting debate over the much-loved former planet.

Pluto, which sports a large heart-shaped area on its surface known as the Tombaugh Region, was downgraded from planetary status after a terse debate in August 2006.

Astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson famously led the campaign to defrock the former planet.

He teased fans of the dwarf planet in 2015 writing: Dear Pluto, Lookin’ good. But you’re still a Dwarf Planet — get over it. Love, Neil deGrasse Tyson.”

Debate is raging about whether Pluto should again be designated as a planet. Picture: NASA

Dear Pluto,
Lookin’ good. But you’re still a Dwarf Planet — get over it.
Love, Neil deGrasse Tyson pic.twitter.com/qBBD9feG6e

— Neil deGrasse Tyson (@neiltyson) July 15, 2015

Now Mr Bridenstine has stepped into the fray, saying Pluto is indeed a planet.

“I see people writing, just so you know in my view Pluto is a planet,” he said.

“You can write that the NASA administrator declared Pluto a planet once again.

“I’m sticking by that, it’s the way I learned it and I’m committed to it.”

A hazy image of Pluto taken by the Hubble Space Telescope. Picture: Hubble

My favorite soundbyte of the day that probably won't make it to TV. It came from NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine. As a Pluto Supporter, I really appreciated this. #9wx #PlutoLoversRejoice @JimBridenstine pic.twitter.com/NdfQWW5PSZ

— Cory Reppenhagen (@CReppWx) August 23, 2019

Pluto, an ice dwarf orbiting about four billion kilometres from Earth, was discovered by Clyde Tombaugh in 1930.

It takes about 248 years to orbit the sun.

The New Horizons spacecraft flew by Pluto in 2015, taking detailed photos and showing its famous “heart” in stunning clarity.

Pluto's famous heart-shaped Tombaugh Region. Picture: New Horizons

But the former planet’s fate was doomed when the International Astronomical Union met to decide the definition of a planet in 2006.

The group decided a planet must meet the following criteria:

• It must be in orbit around the sun

• Have a sufficient mass to have a nearly round shape

• And “clear the neighbourhood” around its orbit

Unfortunately, for fans of Pluto, the dwarf planet failed to meet the final criteria in its location in the Kuiper Belt.

Scientists argued if Pluto remained a planet, hundreds and possibly thousands of other objects would also meet the same criteria.

A global view of Pluto, made from images of Pluto as New Horizons approached in July 2015. Picture: NASA

An artist’s concept of the New Horizons spacecraft as it approached Pluto and its largest moon, Charon, in July 2015. Picture: EPA/NASA

Despite that, Pluto is almost certainly the largest object in the Kuiper Belt, according to measurements by the New Horizons probe.

The former planet has its fans, with the Society for the Preservation of Pluto as a Planet campaigning for Pluto’s status to be upgraded.

“For over 75 years schoolchildren all over the world have learned that our solar system has nine planets,” the group’s website states.

“Pluto’s status as a planet has sparked the human imagination for decades … Now is not the time to downgrade Pluto’s status.”

So far there’s been no response from the International Astronomical Union.

Do you think Pluto should be a planet? Join the conversation in the comments below