It has been seven months after a conclave of scientists downgraded Pluto to a ‘Dwarf Planet’. Now a New Mexico state representative aims to give the respect back to the far planet.
State lawmakers will vote Tuesday on a bill that proposes to make Pluto a planet.
The resolution was initiated by Rep. Joni Marie Gutierrez. The resolution also calls to make March 13 ‘Pluto Planet Day’.
The date holds significance as it is the birthday of Percival Lowell, the astronomer who first posited the existence of a ‘Planet X’ beyond the orbit of Neptune. Clyde Tombaugh who also comes from the county Gutierrez represents found Pluto in 1930.
The resolution wants that Pluto should be considered a planet at least in New Mexico.
Gutierrez believes that the resolution will pass easily and he will be able to give the planet its respect back.
The astronomical group decided at its 2006 General Assembly to define a planet as a celestial body that orbits around the sun and has enough mass so that gravitational forces create a round or nearly round shape of the planet. Objects that do not meet all the criteria are considered to be dwarf planets.
This new status of Dwarf planets includes Ceres, Pluto and Eris.
The resolution by the representatives of New Mexico is also welcomed by the IAU or International Astronomical union.
The resolution is also welcomed by other astronomers who are not content with the demotion of Pluto. Astronomers have also pointed out that if all the criteria for getting a planet status be considered then even Neptune and Jupiter should not be called as Planets. Since Neptune has not cleared its orbit since Pluto crosses its path and Jupiter also has some objects in its orbit.
NASA has also launched a space craft named New Horizons to study the distant land which will reach the Pluto in 2015.
Via: wired
