The Pluto Files: The Rise and Fall of America’s Favorite Planet
Quick Summary
In The Pluto Files: The Rise and Fall of America's Favorite Planet, Neil deGrasse Tyson explores the public's emotional reaction to Pluto's reclassification. In 2006, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) defined a planet as a celestial body that orbits the Sun, is spherical, and has cleared its orbital neighborhood. Pluto meets the first two criteria but not the third, leading to its reclassification as a dwarf planet. This decision sparked controversy, with many objecting on traditional grounds rather than scientific ones. Tyson attributes some of the sentimental attachment to Pluto being discovered by an American and a popular cartoon character's dog being named after it.1234
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