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IAU Demotes Pluto to 'Dwarf Planet' Status

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the and-then-there-were-eight dept.

davidwr writes "It's official. Pluto's been demoted. It's now one of several 'dwarf planets.' I guess we can drop the 'Period' from 'Mary's violet eyes make John stay up nights.'" (Of course, no one says you have to privately agree with the International Astronomical Union.) Several readers have contributed links to the BBC's coverage of the downgrade, as well as the usefully illustrated story at MSNBC.

17 of 424 comments (clear)

  1. my take on it: by SomeGuyFromCA · · Score: 5, Funny

    many very educated men just screwed up nine planets...

    --
    if the answer isn't violence, neither is your silence / freedom of expression doesn't make it alright
    1. Re:my take on it: by Average_Joe_Sixpack · · Score: 3, Funny

      I agree! Not since Brontosaurus was renamed to Apatosaurus have I been this upset.

    2. Re:my take on it: by Amazing+Quantum+Man · · Score: 4, Funny

      Reminds me of a guy from JPL I used to know. His plates read "MVEM JSU" with a license plate holder that read "This License is NP-Complete".

      What's he going to do now?

      --
      Fascism starts when the efficiency of the government becomes more important than the rights of the people.
    3. Re:my take on it: by Rei · · Score: 4, Funny

      ...Walt Disney may be rolling over in his grave, but Pluto discoverer Clyde Tombaugh is surely spinning!

      At a rate of once every six days, nine hours, seventeen minutes, and thirty six seconds.

      --
      But this Rottweiler not only is snarling and frothing at the mouth; it also went to Harvard.
    4. Re:my take on it: by uniqueSnowflake2 · · Score: 3, Funny

      My comments are mostly gas...I don't want to speak for anyone else here.

    5. Re:my take on it: by Cro+Magnon · · Score: 5, Funny

      I don't care what those new-fangled books say! I called them "brontosaurus" when I used to ride them to school, and I still call them that.

      --
      Slow down, cowboy! It has been 4 hours since you last posted. You must wait another few hours.
  2. Mnemonic device update by jameseyjamesey · · Score: 5, Funny

    My Very Eager Mother Just Served Us Nachos

  3. Now every geek's question is... by Lothar+0 · · Score: 4, Funny

    How will this affect Sailor Pluto?

    --
    "Anonymous Coward" is for whistleblowers, not unpopular opinions.
    1. Re:Now every geek's question is... by zyl0x · · Score: 5, Funny

      Um, how about Sailor Moon? It's never been said that the Sailor Scouts have to be representative of the nine plan-- Oh my god. It just occurred to me that I'm a nerd.

      --
      Blerg.
  4. A new one by suso · · Score: 4, Funny

    Much vodka easily makes John seek urination naturally

  5. Pluto demoted? by jo42 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Walt Disney is turning over in his grave...

  6. That changes everything by Frequency+Domain · · Score: 4, Funny

    I learned "Mary Virginia eats many jam sandwiches under Ned's porch." Now it will have to be "...under Ned."

  7. Re:Why is this "breaking news" by Skye16 · · Score: 5, Funny

    And incredibly freaking awesome, even if it would be an extinction level event. I don't want to die or anything, but if I'm going to, a: I want it to be in a really huge explosion, and b: I want all of New Jersey to go first.

  8. Son of a B*****!!! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    I remember failing a second grade test because I missed pluto! Time I march down to the nursing home and give Mrs Johnson a piece of my mind!

  9. Napoleon... by turthalion · · Score: 3, Funny

    I guess we can drop the 'Period' from 'Mary's violet eyes make John stay up nights.'

    I don't like this at all.

    You IAU bastards! Now, My Very Educated Mother no longer Just Sat Under Napoleon's Picture. Now, My Very Educated Mother Just Sat Under Napoleon.

    You guys are sick. Leave my mother out of this.

    --
    Michael Coyne
    http://turthalion.blogspot.com
  10. Holst was right. by telchine · · Score: 5, Funny

    Gustav Holst was right all along!

  11. Re:Ok, so no we have... by plague3106 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Excuse me, that's Differently Proportioned Planets!!!