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The Case for Pluto: How a Little Planet Made a Big Difference
by
Alan Boyle
In support of Pluto-the cutest and most unfairly treated planet
Pity poor Pluto: It's a planet that was discovered because of a mistake, a planet that turned out not to be a planet at all, thanks to a still-disputed decision made in 2006. And yet, Pluto is the planet best-loved by Americans, especially children, one that may have contained the building blocks of life billio...more
Pity poor Pluto: It's a planet that was discovered because of a mistake, a planet that turned out not to be a planet at all, thanks to a still-disputed decision made in 2006. And yet, Pluto is the planet best-loved by Americans, especially children, one that may have contained the building blocks of life billio...more
Hardcover, 272 pages
Published
November 1st 2009
by Wiley
(first published September 24th 2009)
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Feb 08, 2011
Kristi Deming
is currently reading it
Too soon into it to give it a rating, but I also watched "The Pluto Files" (which was a PBS documentary) before reading this.
I tried changing my profile pic a few times to things like "Do YOU want to tell the God of the Underworld you demoted his planet?" or "Pluto, the red-headed step-child of the Solar System", but they never worked.
Do I think Pluto should be downgraded? Not a chance. Do I think the IAU needs to conduct the case of Pluto and not only the Kuiper Belt objects, but the planets th...more
I tried changing my profile pic a few times to things like "Do YOU want to tell the God of the Underworld you demoted his planet?" or "Pluto, the red-headed step-child of the Solar System", but they never worked.
Do I think Pluto should be downgraded? Not a chance. Do I think the IAU needs to conduct the case of Pluto and not only the Kuiper Belt objects, but the planets th...more
In the outer reaches of our solar system, a little ball of rock and ice orbits the sun about once every 250 years. We know it as Pluto. It's been called the planet best-loved by Americans, a favorite of school children, a cultural object, and even more passionately, a cosmic underdog and an endearing little planet. In The Case for Pluto, Alan Boyle explores the curious emotional appeal of Pluto and the weird debate over whether or not it's a planet. That's the fun part.
But The Case For Pluto is...more
But The Case For Pluto is...more
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After reading The Pluto Files a couple weeks ago and posting about it, I got a comment from a ubiquitous blogger who's on the "pluto IS a planet" side of things. Her blog recommends The Case for Pluto as an explanation of why Pluto should be called a planet, so in the interest of due dilligence, I read that too.
Boyle gives a more thorough discussion of the two conflicting viewpoints about the word planet, and gives a more balanced discussion of why the IAU decision was so thoroughly disputed. I'...more
Boyle gives a more thorough discussion of the two conflicting viewpoints about the word planet, and gives a more balanced discussion of why the IAU decision was so thoroughly disputed. I'...more
The Case for Pluto covers essentially the same material as The Pluto Files but in much greater depth on the personal side and a little more detail on the scientific side. I liked this book better because of that greater depth, but it was still a pretty dry read and had very few funny bits to lighten things up. The author makes two basic arguments for considering Pluto a planet. The scientific argument is that all objects with enough gravity to become round should be planets, because this is a no...more
Despite this book's title, it's not so much about the merits of Pluto to be considered a planet as it is an indictment of the IAU for being a collection of short-sighted children with pet projects to sell.
Tombaugh discovered Pluto so of course his wife wants it to be considered a planet. And, sorry, but "Kids love that little planet!" is not a cogent argument to throw reasonable classification of celestial bodies out the window. Kids are dumb.
Intrinsic brightness and hydrostatic equilibrium are...more
Tombaugh discovered Pluto so of course his wife wants it to be considered a planet. And, sorry, but "Kids love that little planet!" is not a cogent argument to throw reasonable classification of celestial bodies out the window. Kids are dumb.
Intrinsic brightness and hydrostatic equilibrium are...more
Charming book, but you do have to be a Plutophile.
Although there is one ah-ha moment at the end, that makes you understand how all the naming and labeling silliness might actually be more important than you realize. Also provides hope for those of us who know this egregious injustice (labeling Pluto not a planet....as if) will soon be corrected. Like when New Horizons starts sending back his photos in Summer 2015. Stay tuned.
Although there is one ah-ha moment at the end, that makes you understand how all the naming and labeling silliness might actually be more important than you realize. Also provides hope for those of us who know this egregious injustice (labeling Pluto not a planet....as if) will soon be corrected. Like when New Horizons starts sending back his photos in Summer 2015. Stay tuned.
Interesting read on the argument that led to the demotion of Pluto as a planet. Also speaks of the possibility of finding other larger planets, even as large as our Earth, out past Pluto in the Kuiper Belt. You can tell the author's not happy about Pluto's plight, but hopefully with the New Horizons spacecraft mission (which reaches Pluto in 2015) astronomers will think differently.
My uncle, born in Cascade, Iowa, is a science journalist for MSNBC in Seattle. He wrote this book and is coming for a book signing in the Iowa City/Cedar Rapids area soon. I found the book easy to understand and made me a fan of astronomy! We will be going to the Eastern Iowa Observatory again soon to check out the distant stars!!
A brief history of Pluto, Mr. Boyle's little gray book delivers the entire saga of the smallest "planet" in a voice that is both engaging and concise.
The Case for Pluto presents solid science, entertaining drama and healthy dash of wit, and presents the whole planetary debate in an easily digestible and entertaining package.
More than the story of our Galaxy's underdog, the book sheds a little reflected light on our scientific processes, as well as the social and political forces behind them. T...more
The Case for Pluto presents solid science, entertaining drama and healthy dash of wit, and presents the whole planetary debate in an easily digestible and entertaining package.
More than the story of our Galaxy's underdog, the book sheds a little reflected light on our scientific processes, as well as the social and political forces behind them. T...more
Very informative and gave a good reasoning to why Pluto could be considered a planet. If not for this book, it would be much easier to dismiss this altogether as a planet.
A very readable and accessible book about the discovery of the smaller planets, and the controversy that's surrounded the recent reclassification of the "dwarf planets." Kept my attention all the way through.
A look into the idea of a planet and how the IAU's definition is insufficent for today's scientific world. I like how in his conclusion he points out that the term planet may have outlived its usefulness scientifically and now needs to be replaced by better divisions. Much more comprehensive in its argument of what a planet is.
Interesting background of planet discoveries, but a bit biased.
May 21, 2013
Ken
marked it as to-read
Apr 22, 2013
Thizyri Tanazurt
marked it as to-read
Mar 03, 2013
Steve & Liz
marked it as to-read
Feb 06, 2013
Lam
marked it as to-read
Jan 29, 2013
Nico
marked it as to-read
Jul 08, 2012
Olivia
marked it as to-read
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