Defenders of 鈥減lanet Pluto鈥� have not been appeased by its latest name-change, and are marshalling support for a major scientific meeting devoted to debating its place in the solar system.
Last week, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) designated Pluto and its cousin Eris as 鈥減lutoids鈥�. 鈥淚t sounds like 鈥榟aemorrhoids鈥�,鈥� says Alan Stern, who is chief scientist for NASA鈥檚 New Horizons mission to Pluto. He says that planetary scientists have been left out of the IAU鈥檚 decision-making. Now these scientists will get the chance to present arguments for and against at in August at Laurel, Maryland.
The IAU won鈥檛 be obliged to accept their conclusions. 鈥淭he IAU has done what it could to come forward with a working definition,鈥� says IAU general secretary Karel van der Hucht. 鈥淚n the meantime, it鈥檚 a free world, anybody may organise meetings on the subject.鈥�
Advertisement
