Thursday, December 17, 2009
This post is the first in series of posts on Pluto, formerly known as a planet. I offer some background to why I am interested in Pluto and provide a sketch of the form this series of posts will take. I do not offer any opinion about the status of Pluto, at least not here.
Posted by Darin on 12/17 at 11:15 PM
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Friday, December 18, 2009
This is the first review of the literature on Pluto. Here I look at David Weintraub’s Is Pluto a Planet? Weintraub supports Pluto’s planetary status and is, probably, still upset that the IAU’s definition of a planet excludes Pluto.
Posted by Darin on 12/18 at 02:25 AM
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Sunday, December 20, 2009
Govert Shilling’s The Hunt for Planet X is the second review in my survey of the literature on Pluto. Unlike Weintraub, Shilling does not think Pluto deserves the status of planet. It seems that for Shilling, the IAU’s decision in 2006 was long overdue.
Posted by Darin on 12/20 at 11:49 PM
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Thursday, December 31, 2009
Johannes Kepler, who was born on 27 December 1571, is the subject of a couple recent interesting articles. These articles are an opportunity to see how Kepler was typical of the early-modern European scholar, a person as interested in astronomy and optics (our notion of sciences) as theology and astrology.
Posted by Darin on 12/31 at 01:17 PM
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Thursday, January 07, 2010
In my growing survey of the literature on Pluto, here I review a recent book by two astronomer who claim to be on opposite sides of the debate. They try to conceal their positions until the final chapter, but the general tone of the book supports Pluto’s claim to planethood.
Posted by Darin on 01/07 at 11:55 AM
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Saturday, January 16, 2010
A review of Alan Boyle’s The Case for Pluto, which is readable and enjoyable. As he makes clear in the title, he favors a definition of a planet that would include Pluto, as well as an indeterminate number of yet-to-be-discovered objects orbiting our sun as well as other stars.
Posted by Darin on 01/16 at 11:50 PM
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Sunday, January 24, 2010
A quick review of Neil deGrasse Tyson’s The Pluto Files. Tyson’s book, which just appeared in paperback, is readable, witty, and engaging. It will not, however, convince very many people that Pluto should not be counted amongst the planets.
Posted by Darin on 01/24 at 03:09 PM
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Saturday, March 06, 2010
Just a quick link to Simon Schaffer’s Tarner Lectures on astronomy and empire. Podcasts are available for download.
Posted by Darin on 03/06 at 07:57 AM
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Monday, July 12, 2010
This post looks at Joseph Moxon’s efforts in the late 17th century to make science fun and to popularize astronomy by using astronomical playing cards.
Posted by Darin on 07/12 at 11:43 PM
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