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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.

2 of 424 comments (clear)

  1. Another nmemonic bites the dust. by MMC+Monster · · Score: 0, Redundant

    My very educated mother just served us nine pizzas.

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  2. Re:Anyone? Anyone? by plague3106 · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Pluto is automatically disqualified because its oblong orbit overlaps with Neptune's.

    Couldn't you argue that that excludes Neptune as well, since it didn't 'clear out its neighorhood'?