PACHSmörgåsbord: Planet

Friday, December 18, 2009

A review of David A. Weintraub’s Is Pluto a Planet?

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: Pluto is Icy Chunk of Space Debris

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, January 07, 2010

What’s so Confidential about Pluto?

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

What is the case for Pluto?

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

File Pluto under “K” for “Kuiper Belt”

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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