The Freak Planet
I realize that I'm way behind on reporting on last week's interplanetary developments, but I thought I would chip in anyway.
First, let me say I'm on board with the decision. I mean, it's smaller than many of the moons in the solar system (including our own), it's got a wacky orbit, and other newer "planets" were beginning to be discovered. It was only a matter of time before the International Astronomical Union came to it's senses.
Except what's up with the "dwarf planet" designation? This has created no small amount of consternation among those who care about such things. You would think that the term confers planetary status, but it doesn't. Quoting astronomer Owen Gingerich in the Washington Post: "...we are now faced with the absurdity that a dwarf planet is not a planet. Is a human dwarf not a human?"