Chapter 1: The Status of Pluto

Pluto has not been categorized as a planet since 2006, yet some astronomers have recently voiced their dissent regarding this classification.

What exactly is Pluto? — [Photo: NASA/JHUAPL/SwRI, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons]

News from space not only introduces new celestial discoveries but also brings about revisions in the classification of known bodies. This was notably the case in 2006 when the International Astronomical Union (IAU) determined that Pluto should no longer be included among the planets. Since that pivotal decision, the debate over the status of this dwarf planet has sparked renewed discussions among scientists. Recently, some researchers have revisited the criteria set 15 years ago.

How many planets exist in our solar system? — [Photo: Pablo Carlos Budassi, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons]

Why is Pluto not considered a planet?

A study conducted by experts at the Florida Space Institute, University of Central Florida (UCF), suggests that the decision to demote Pluto was based on outdated views that intertwined astronomy with astrology. The researchers argue that the verdict from 15 years ago should be revised. Notably, the inconsistencies in this assessment may not only pertain to Pluto but could also extend to other celestial entities.

Over centuries, our understanding of the universe has expanded significantly, largely due to the contributions of Italian scientist Galileo Galilei, who remains a pivotal figure in modern astronomy. Analyzing historical literature, UCF scientists found that Galileo regarded geological activity as a fundamental characteristic of planets. This definition went largely unchallenged until the early 20th century, when publications on planetology dwindled, giving way to almanacs.

Philip Metzger, a planetologist at UCF, notes, “In England and the United States, so many almanacs were published that every household could acquire a copy each year. This period marked a key transition in public perception, as people began to accept that the Earth orbits the Sun, aligning this fact with astrological definitions of planets.”

Why is Pluto not considered a planet? — [Photo: NASA/JHUAPL/SwRI, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons]

Historically, under Galileo's definition, moons and asteroids could qualify as planets. However, this perspective shifted as astrology required a specific number of planets for predictions, akin to astrological forecasts found in almanacs. Consequently, the definition of planets transitioned from geological activity to their orbits around the Sun.

Pluto appears to fit the criteria of a planet, yet…

When human space exploration began in the 20th century, Pluto was recognized as one of the nine planets in our solar system. Despite this, some scientists revisited Galileo's broader definition of planets, while others rejected it. These differing views persist to this day. UCF researchers discovered that the key criterion from the IAU that resulted in Pluto's reclassification was never consistently applied in the past.

Metzger likens the abandonment of Galileo’s definition and the acceptance of a folk concept of planets to placing the Italian scientist under house arrest, emphasizing the desire among scientists to liberate his perspective. “We want his view to be clear and prominent,” he asserts.

If the IAU were to revise its criteria for defining planets and restore Pluto’s status, it could fundamentally alter our understanding of celestial bodies. Conversely, failing to do so may suggest that our classification of planets is artificially constrained. There may be far more celestial entities in the universe than we currently acknowledge, irrespective of our definitions here on Earth.

Chapter 2: The Evolution of Astronomical Knowledge

The advancement of computers mimicking human vision

In contemporary times, replicating human-like capabilities in technology is a widely recognized challenge.

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