ReDefining Moment

Meanwhile, back on planet Earth, you’ve heard no doubt that Pluto is out. Yes, out of the solar system, out of this world, and out of the mnemonics of millions of school children who will now have a harder time memorizing the planetary order. Will it now go like this: Sun, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and the planet formerly known as Pluto? In a stellar twist of fate, in which it seems size does matter, Pluto has been redefined as a “dwarf planet” because it lives in a rather crowded cosmic neighborhood, that is, in a “sea of other objects that occupy the same region of space”. Urban dwellers beware, as you too may be at risk for redefining. Mother Earth we’re told has managed to clear out the space around her, so that her planetary status will stand. What a relief, unless of course someone wants to question the not-so-neighborly asteroids that are bouncing about way out there. The universe is topsy turvy indeed. Can realigning the stars be far behind? Catch the hotly debated progress on the story at www.space.com. And we’ll keep watching the skies… /jb