Is Pluto a planet? NASA administrator and Brian May reignite debate

In 2006, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) sowed consternation by stating that Pluto was no longer a planet. Since several bodies of similar size have been found in the Kuiper belt, IAU has created a definition that includes the criterion that a planet must "clean the neighborhood around its orbit", which Pluto does not do. Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet, which upset anyone who grew up discovering a solar system consisting of nine planets.

NASA's administrator Jim Bridenstine relaunched the fierce debate about Pluto's status by unexpectedly announcing that it was becoming a planet. "In my opinion, Pluto is a planet," said Bridenstine in a clip on the cheek in the language posted on Twitter. "You can write that the administrator of NASA once again declared Pluto a planet. I'm sticking to that. That's how I learned it. I am committed to it. "

Inspired by Bridenstine's bold decision against the Pluto-antisotlanter, guitarist and astrophysicist Queen, Brian May, weighed on Instagram. "Not that I have any authority," began May, generally humble, "but, for what it's worth, I totally agree .. Pluto was discovered and named as a planet shortly before my At that time, it was generally understood instinctively that a planet belonged to a family of nearly spherical objects that gravitated around the Sun (rather than doing anything else in orbit). Pluto is a classic PLANET, end of story. "

May then discussed the operation of planetary categorizations, saying that we could just as easily call Pluto the edge of the planetary zone and, beyond that, an object of the Kuiper belt. He also pointed out that the word "planet" comes from the Greek and means "wandering star", which shows that the definitions change over time, as our knowledge of the universe develops.

May also thanked Alan Stern, the global scientist who worked as lead investigator for the New Horizons mission in Pluto, who captured beautiful close-up images of the body that sparked heated debate. Stern is known for, in addition to his scientific achievements, popularizing the "nine-finger" salvation of Pluto to demonstrate his support for Pluto as a planet. If you agree with May, Bridenstine and Stern, you now know how to show the world.

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