savepluto

SP3 Email Spoofing

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 13:02:33 GMT

We have just discovered that someone out there is sending out spoof emails that purport to be from the domain plutoisaplanet.org. If you've received one of these emails, please be advised that they did not come from us, as we never use the domain name for sending out email.

Venetia Phair (1918-2009)

Tue, 12 May 2009 13:22:55 GMT

As has been reported in many places, Venetia Phair, the woman who, at the age of 11, gave Pluto its name, died on April 30 at the age of 90.

The New York Times has a very good obituary at Venetia Phair Dies at 90; as a Girl, She Named Pluto, written by William Grimes.

Farewell, Venetia.

Saving Pluto For the Sixth Grade

Fri, 06 Mar 2009 17:48:53 GMT

Sean P. Fodera, the New York Regional Coordinator of the Society for the Preservation of Pluto as Planet, visited his son's classroom to discuss Pluto and blogs about it in My Presentation on Pluto's Planetary Status:

I briefly explained the history of how planets get discovered, and how improving technology has made it easier to find objects in space. They were amazed that anyone could have spotted Pluto from Earth with 1930s telescope technology, or that comparing fuzzy photos could work for detecting the far-off planet....

I discussed the controversy over Pluto's demotion, explaining how the new definition of planet is not accurate, and how less than 5% of the IAU actually voted on the matter. The students had trouble understanding the voting part of it, since they all seem to assume that if something is voted on, it must be fair. So, I presented an example. "Let's say that when your teacher and I went to this school, it was decided that every year the 6th grade class would get to go to the circus. Now, years later, someone decides to take a vote about whether to keep going on the circus trip. Instead of all 50 of you voting, only three of you vote. One votes 'yes', and two vote 'no'. 'No' wins, but it's not exactly a fair vote, is it? That's what happened to Pluto." Eyes lit up, and lot of heads started shaking.

Go read!

SP3 Confronts Pluto Demoter Neil deGrasse Tyson!

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 17:24:27 GMT

Last night, the president and vice-president of the Society for the Preservation of Pluto as a Planet attended a talk by Neil deGrasse Tyson, and to the merriment of all, confronted him on his single-handed decision to change the face of our solar system forever.

Well, more seriously, we did hear an excellent talk on his own role in the Pluto controversy.

See http://mabfan.livejournal.com/422763.html for the full write-up.

Pluto Poltics Hits Springfield

Wed, 25 Feb 2009 15:40:01 GMT

The Illinois State Legislature is taking on the cause of Pluto, according to an article in the Daily Herald:

Like some sort of rulers of the universe, state lawmakers are considering restoring little Pluto's planetary status, casting aside the scientific community's 2006 decision downgrading the distant ice ball.

An Illinois Senate committee on Thursday unanimously supported planet Pluto and declaring March 13 "Pluto Day." The idea now moves to the full Senate for a vote.

See Pluto Politics Hits Springfield for the full story.

(Thanks to fellow traveler ffoeg for the tip.)

And the Debate Rages On...

Mon, 08 Sep 2008 14:33:18 GMT

(Thanks to marsgov for pointing this out. The original XKCD cartoon can be found at http://xkcd.com/473/.)

Plutoid?

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 19:32:08 GMT

According to the article Pluto-like objects to be called 'plutoids', the International Astronomical Union (IAU) announced today that Pluto, which they reclassified as a dwarf planet, will now also be known as a plutoid.

Those of us at the Society for the Preservation of Pluto as a Planet see this as a step toward Pluto regaining its rightful status as the ninth planet in the solar system. After all, if the IAU keeps giving new designations to Pluto, eventually they'll just give up and call it a planet again.

Long Live Pluto!

Clyde Tombaugh Pluto Mural Dedication Date and Time Announced

Mon, 12 May 2008 10:22:28 GMT

Streatorland Historical Society will dedicate a mural for Streator, Illinois native Clyde Tombaugh on Sunday, May 25, 2008 at 2:00 pm in the 300 block of East Main Street, downtown Streator. The dedication is part of Streator’s Heritage Days celebration held from Friday, May 23rd through Monday, May 26th featuring a carnival, crafts, vendors, food and entertainment.

Local artist John Betken designed the mural as a tribute to Tombaugh’s accomplishments. The mural depicts early astronomers Tombaugh as a young stargazer on the family farm, his days at the Lowell Observatory where he discovered Pluto, and the New Horizons space mission currently on its voyage toward the planet Pluto.

Guest speakers from New Mexico, Annette Tombaugh-Sitze and Alden Tombaugh, (daughter and son of Clyde Tombaugh) will offer insight into their father’s life and discoveries. The public is encouraged to attend.

New Article on Pluto in Scientific American

Tue, 15 Apr 2008 18:48:51 GMT

Scientific American has the following article on Pluto: Is Rekindling the Pluto Planet Debate a Good Idea?

We here at the Society for the Preservation of Pluto as a Planet say yes.

Pluto Is A Planet!
Save Pluto!
Visit our Planet Pluto store for official SP3 merchandise.

The Great Planet Debate: August 14-16, 2008

Mon, 14 Apr 2008 11:52:31 GMT

SP3 member and Pluto supporter laurele shares with the Society for the Preservation of Pluto as a Planet the following news:

In the days immediately following the IAU’s controversial demotion of Pluto, Dr. Alan Stern, Principal Investigator of NASA’s New Horizons mission to Pluto and a leading opponent of the demotion, announced plans to hold his own conference of astronomers to address the planet definition issue.

That conference, “The Great Planet Debate: Science As Progress,” has now been scheduled for August 14-16, 2008 at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, MD. Co-sponsored by NASA, the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, the Planetary Science Institute, the Planetary Society, and the American Astronautical Society, it is open to all interested members of the public.

The conference chair is Dr. Mark Sykes.

Days one and two will feature a discussion of both the IAU planet definition, based on dynamics, and an alternative geophysical definition. This portion will include a lecture and panel discussion and will be followed by a reception.

On the third day, an Educator Workshop will address the issue of dealing with the planet debate in schools and how to use it as a springboard to discuss science as a process.

The conference will feature a public debate--Neil deGrasse Tyson vs. Mark Sykes.

Information about the conference, including a registration form, schedule, and conference information, can be found at http://gpd.jhuapl.edu/

Discussions and ideas presented during the conference could potentially be brought to light at the next IAU General Assembly in 2009. For this reason, those of us who support Pluto’s planet status should make every effort to attend and make our voices heard.

Pluto Is A Planet!
Save Pluto!
Visit our Planet Pluto store for official SP3 merchandise.

Pluto Demotion One-Year Anniversary Tomorrow

Thu, 23 Aug 2007 18:10:52 GMT

Tomorrow, August 24, 2007, is a sad day for us here at the Society for the Preservation of Pluto as a Planet, for it is the one-year anniversary of the day that Pluto was demoted by the International Astronomical Union from a planet to a dwarf planet.

We here at SP3 encourage you to show your support by wearing a Pluto armband tomorrow with the astronomical symbol for Pluto. Just print out the symbol below and tape it to a loop of paper or cloth that you can wrap around your left arm. Show your solidarity with other Pluto supporters!

Planet Eris

Fri, 15 Jun 2007 11:57:34 GMT

Yesterday, Science published a paper by Michael E. Brown and Emily Schaller, reporting that Eris is actually more massive than Pluto, which would imply that if Pluto were to be considered a planet, Eris would have to be one as well. Anne Minard wrote an article on this discovery for the National Geographic News, and as it so happens she called the president of the Society for the Preservation of Pluto as a Planet (SP3) for an opinion.

Anne Minard's article can be found at Pluto Smaller Than Nearby Dwarf Planet Eris, Study Finds (the quote below is from page 2):

Michael A. Burstein is president of the Society for the Preservation of Pluto as a Planet, which goes by the acronym SP3. The group of astronomy buffs formed in the spring of 2006, when rumors first started circulating that Pluto was in trouble.

Burstein preferred the IAU's initial idea for a planet definition, which was never voted upon at their solar-system-shattering meeting last August.

By that definition—that a planet should directly orbit a star and be massive enough to be round—Pluto would still be a planet, as would dwarf planets Eris and Ceres, a large, round asteroid orbiting near Jupiter.

It's fine if we end up with 50 or even 100 planets as new objects are discovered, Burstein said. We could keep the math easy by calling the old guard, including Pluto, "classical planets," he added.

For now, Burstein's group is laying low to see what the pros do—under the guidance of New Horizons' Alan Stern. Stern is leading the charge of professional astronomers to dismiss the IAU's ruling.

"People just aren't using the IAU definition because it's so substantially flawed," he said. "Even their own members, and I'm one, aren't using the IAU definition."

The debate over a better definition was a hot topic at the April meeting of the European Geophysical Union. And it's already part of the agenda for the February 2008 meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Pluto Is A Planet!
Save Pluto!
Celebrate International Save Pluto Day every February 4!
Read the International Save Pluto Day declaration!
Visit our Planet Pluto store for official SP3 merchandise.
Subscribe to our mailing list at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/savepluto/.

Wed, 25 Apr 2007 20:13:02 GMT

J. Stephen York, in his essay Tiny Planets, Big Egos, and Unintended Consequences, points out why Pluto's demotion will devastate astronomy...

Pluto Is A Planet!
Save Pluto!
Visit our Planet Pluto store for official SP3 merchandise.

Planet Pluto Expo

Thu, 01 Mar 2007 03:13:10 GMT

This May, from 18-19, the town of Streator, IL will be hosting Planet Pluto Expo to commemorate the planet and Streator's most famous son, Clyde Tombaugh. The town announced the celebration on January 15, two days before the tenth anniversary of Clyde's death. They admit that it was sparked by last year's controversy.

Admission to the events will be free.

According to the Streater Tourism website, the weekend will include informative workshops, interactive displays, educational seminars.

A Paen to Pluto

Mon, 12 Feb 2007 19:39:37 GMT

SP3 supporter laurele has posted an excellent short essay, It Was Meant to Be Found, of her reflections on Pluto after the Great Pluto Debate:

Pluto’s remarkable history is compelling to so many people perhaps because it is the tale of a little planet that would not die, that would not even “go away.” A friend of mine, upon hearing this fascinating history, reflected a thought that might not be scientific but is nevertheless profound: Pluto was meant to be found. It was meant to join the family of planets...

The Great Pluto Debate in the News

Mon, 05 Feb 2007 15:28:58 GMT

For a report on The Great Pluto Debate that took place at the Clay Center Observatory yesterday in honor of International Save Pluto Day, see http://boston.metro.us/metro/local/article/Crusading_for_Pluto/6796.html.

The Great Pluto Debate!

Thu, 18 Jan 2007 13:13:24 GMT

The news has already been out there for a few days, but let this be the official announcement from the Society for the Preservation of Pluto as a Planet:

THE GREAT PLUTO DEBATE!

The Clay Center Observatory announces a multimedia presentation about Pluto followed by The Great Pluto Debate on Sunday February 4, 2007, the 101st anniversary of the birthday of Clyde Tombaugh, discoverer of Pluto.

In 2006, the International Astronomical Union voted to demote Pluto. Thousands of average citizens all over the world have protested this decision. What's the big fuss about? Come find out all about Pluto and enjoy a friendly debate concerning its status. Learn about the history of Pluto and the upcoming mission to Pluto. Discover what will happen next in our solar system!

Panelists include:
Owen Gingerich, Chair, IAU Planet Definition Committee
Brian Marsden, Director, Minor Planet Center, Harvard CfA
Gareth Williams, Associate Director, Minor Planet Center, Harvard CfA
Jane Luu, Professor and Astronomer, MIT Lincoln Laboratory
Kelly Beatty, Executive Editor, Sky and Telescope
Arsen R. Hajian, U.S. Naval Observatory
Andy Cheng, New Horizons Mission to Pluto
Michael A. Burstein, President, SP3
Nomi S. Burstein, Vice President, SP3

The Clay Center will be open for refreshments at 1:30 PM. The program will begin promptly at 2:00 PM followed by tours of the Clay Center starting at 3:30 PM.

Recommended for ages 8 to adult and all lovers of astronomy.

Seating limited to 400. Reservations are required. Please register at http://www.claycenter.org.

Free souvenirs.

Visit http://www.plutoisaplanet.org for more information on International Save Pluto Day.

The Clay Center Observatory
20 Newton Street
Brookline, MA 02445

SP3 President Interviewed on "Light On Light Through" Podcast

Tue, 16 Jan 2007 14:37:54 GMT

As we get ready to make the formal announcements regarding "The Great Pluto Debate!" taking place at the Clay Center Observatory in Brookline, Massachusetts on the afternoon of February 4, 2007, we here at the Society for the Preservation of Pluto as a Planet will start to point all of you toward news and publicity regarding the event.

Paul Levinson, who does the Light On Light Through podcast among others, decided to devote Episode 17, released on Saturday 1/13/07, to the status of Pluto. Paul asked Michael A. Burstein if he would be willing to come on in his capacity as the president of the Society for the Preservation of Pluto as a Planet to discuss what the International Astronomical Union did to Pluto and what might happen next.

Even if you've read some of what we've written before on the subject, you might want to download the podcast, since Paul does a good job of asking the questions that are on everyone's mind. You can click on the link above, or you can go directly to Light On Light Through: What on Earth Are They Doing to Poor Pluto?. (Both SF Signal and Locus picked up the news for their "SF Tidbits" and "Blinks" sections respectively.)

Also, on the podcast, Michael made the first public announcement regarding the lineup we have for the debate. We'll be posting more about this soon, but if you download the podcast, you'll get the news sooner.

We remind all of you to continue spreading the word about the first International Save Pluto Day on February 4, 2007. Remember to write the IAU and tell them how you feel about Pluto!

Pluto Is A Planet!
Save Pluto!
Celebrate International Save Pluto Day on February 4!
Read the International Save Pluto Day declaration!
Visit our Planet Pluto store for official SP3 merchandise.
Subscribe to our mailing list at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/savepluto/.

SP3 News Story on Channel 4 Now Available: Taking the Fight for Pluto to the Airwaves

Thu, 30 Nov 2006 13:48:04 GMT

Yesterday, we here at the Society for the Preservation of Pluto as a Planet noted that CBS 4 News in Boston was doing a story on us. SP3 president and vice-president Michael & Nomi Burstein were interviewed about the fight to save Pluto.

They ran the interview last night. The video is here, with a partial transcript here. The reporter, Ken Barlow, gave a plug for the Clay Center Observatory and for our upcoming Save Pluto Day observances on 4 February 2007.

We hope this will hope spread the words about Save Pluto Day. In January, we plan to mail flyers to schools all over the Boston area, promoting the friendly debate being sponsored by the Clay Center on February 4th. Hopefully, we'll get a big turnout from other like-minded individuals.

Pluto Is A Planet!
Save Pluto!
Celebrate International Save Pluto Day on February 4!
Read the International Save Pluto Day declaration!
Visit our Planet Pluto store for official SP3 merchandise.
Subscribe to our mailing list at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/savepluto/.

SP3 To Be Featured On Channel 4 News, Boston

Wed, 29 Nov 2006 02:24:54 GMT

We here at the Society for the Preservation of Pluto as a Planet are delighted to announce another piece of media coverage.

CBS 4 News in Boston is doing a story on us! According to our sources, the segment will be broadcast as part of the 5 PM local news on Wednesday, November 29 (that's tomorrow). The President and Vice-President of SP3 were interviewed for the segment, during which they discussed their love of Pluto and why we here at SP3 think the IAU's definition of a planet is flawed.

If you miss the segment, it will be placed on the Channel 4 website at http://cbs4boston.com after the broadcast. We'll try to provide folks with an exact link.

Our hope, of course, is that this will help spread the word about International Save Pluto Day.

Pluto Is A Planet!
Save Pluto!
Celebrate International Save Pluto Day on February 4!
Read the International Save Pluto Day declaration!
Visit our Planet Pluto store for official SP3 merchandise.
Subscribe to our mailing list at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/savepluto/.

New Horizons Photographs Pluto!

Tue, 28 Nov 2006 21:52:07 GMT

The Bad Astronomy Blog is reporting that the New Horizons spacecraft has taken a picture of Pluto for the very first time!

We here at the Society for the Preservation of Pluto as a Planet are delighted to spread this news along.

Pluto Is A Planet!
Save Pluto!
Celebrate International Save Pluto Day on February 4!
Read the International Save Pluto Day declaration!
Visit our Planet Pluto store for official SP3 merchandise.
Subscribe to our mailing list at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/savepluto/.

Professional Astronomers Stand Up For Pluto

Wed, 08 Nov 2006 15:36:49 GMT

In the middle of all this election news, we here at the Society for the Preservation of Pluto as a Planet wish to bring a more relevant news item to the attention of all our members and supporters.

According to Astronomers Fight for Pluto's Planetary Status in the November 6 issue of Newsweek, we may be seeing official action from astronomers well before the IAU's next General Assembly in 2009:

Although the IAU isn't scheduled to meet again until 2009, plans are being laid for an ad hoc conference of astronomers next year to come up with another new definition of "planet"—one that will almost certainly restore Pluto's status.

We here at SP3 welcome this development, and we're glad to see that the professional astronomers are taking a stand. But despite their actions, we feel that grass-roots actions are still vital to our cause. We remind all of you to start spreading the word about International Save Pluto Day next February 4.

Pluto Is A Planet!
Save Pluto!
Celebrate International Save Pluto Day on February 4!
Read the International Save Pluto Day declaration!
Visit our Planet Pluto store for official SP3 merchandise.
Subscribe to our mailing list at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/savepluto/.

SP3's President on International Save Pluto Day

Fri, 03 Nov 2006 13:48:30 GMT

The president of the Society for the Preservation of Pluto as a Planet has posted his personal thoughts on International Save Pluto Day over on his own personal LiveJournal:

And the thing about a grass-roots movement is that it depends upon the general populace to get moving. We've created a framework within which the worldwide net of Pluto supporters can take action. Rather than having a diffuse series of (say) Internet petitions, an International Save Pluto Day would help impress upon the consciousness of the world that Pluto still has a broad base of intense support. As anyone can see in the declaration, we're encouraging people to contact the IAU on or about that day, to make it clear how important Pluto is to all of us. If they receive a bunch of separate petitions or letters spread over the course of a year, it may not make an impression. But if they receive a slew of support in the space of a week, they'll definitely notice.

Pluto Is A Planet!
Save Pluto!
Visit our Planet Pluto store for official SP3 merchandise.
Subscribe to our mailing list at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/savepluto/.

Official Declaration of the International Save Pluto Day

Thu, 02 Nov 2006 14:15:14 GMT

[This declaration can also be found at http://www.plutoisaplanet.org/ISPD_declaration.html.]

The Society for the Preservation of Pluto as a Planet hereby declares that Sunday, February 4, 2007, the 101st birthday of Pluto discoverer Clyde Tombaugh, will be International Save Pluto Day! To that end, we are endorsing three sets of activities.

1. All supporters of Pluto are encouraged to contact the International Astronomical Union by letter or postcard mailed during the week before Save Pluto Day. We are declaring January 29, the anniversary of Pluto's second photograph, as Discovery Day. On Discovery Day, put your letter supporting Pluto in the mail!

The idea is to show the IAU how much support Pluto has by encouraging a mass mailing from all over the world in a short period of time. Our hope is that this concentrated show of support will make it clear how much the citizens of this planet care about our fellow wanderer in the solar system.

So, on January 29, 2007, get a postcard, write on it, "Pluto is a Planet!" or "Save Pluto!" and mail it to the IAU. If you're feeling more ambitious, send a letter explaining just why you support Pluto. As they receive all that mail over the course of the week leading up to Save Pluto Day, we will know that our individual voices will be heard in unity.

The address of the International Astronomical Union is

IAU-UAI
98bis Bd Arago
FR - 75014
Paris
FRANCE

2. The Society is promoting events all over the United States and, we hope, the rest of the world. For example, on February 4, the Clay Center Observatory (Brookline, Massachusetts, USA), has agreed to host an educational program and friendly debate about Pluto for the general public. Expert planetary scientists from area research institutions will present both sides of the issue. We encourage other such institutions all over the world to sponsor their own lectures or observation sessions as part of Save Pluto Day. We will keep a geographical list of those that we know of on our International Save Pluto Day Events Page.

3. What if you can't get to a lecture but you still want to show your support for Pluto? Throw a Pluto party! We encourage all supporters to turn International Save Pluto Day into a festive event, by opening their homes to like-minded folks that evening. If you're an amateur astronomer who owns a telescope, even better! Set it up and introduce your friends and neighbors to the wonders of the night sky.

We are actively soliciting suggestions for appropriate music and decorations for Pluto Parties, as well as DVD movies and television shows that people might want to watch. Check back often on our Pluto Party Kit Page for ideas.

PLUTO SUPPORTERS ANNOUNCE INTERNATIONAL SAVE PLUTO DAY

Thu, 02 Nov 2006 13:44:53 GMT

The Society for the Preservation of Pluto as a Planet, a grass-roots organization created in June, has declared that Sunday, February 4, 2007, will be International Save Pluto Day. Supporters of Pluto's status as planet are encouraged to observe that day.

"We chose February 4 because it's the birthday of Clyde Tombaugh, who discovered Pluto," said Michael A. Burstein, president of the Society. "He would have turned 101 years old."

The Society, which goes by the abbreviation SP3, is suggesting three ways for supporters to celebrate the day.

"We're hoping that everyone who cares deeply enough about Pluto will send a letter or postcard to the offices of the International Astronomical Union declaring their support. If supporters mail their postcards on January 29, which is the anniversary of Pluto's second photograph, then the IAU will receive a flood of mail by February 4, letting them know that the public really does care."

Burstein is also encouraging people to throw Pluto parties. But more importantly, he's asking scientific institutions such as observatories and planetaria to sponsor programs for the public on February 4.

"We have a wonderful opportunity here to excite the public about the new discoveries of the outer solar system," he said.

The Clay Center Observatory in Brookline, Massachusetts, has already agreed to host an educational program about Pluto for the general public on that day, with planetary scientists from area research institutions presenting both sides of the issue. Burstein is hopeful that other institutions will follow suit.

"We're not asking observatories to take our side," he said. "But Pluto's demotion creates a chance for our scientific institutions to sponsor educational programs for the day. We hope many of them will consider taking advantage of the public's general interest in this issue."

Supporters of Pluto who want to find out about events in their area or who wish to sponsor a Pluto party can find information on the group's website, at http://www.plutoisaplanet.org. The declaration for International Save Pluto Day can be found at http://www.plutoisaplanet.org/ISPD_declaration.html.