The Northern Light

Media Credit: Photo courtesy of NASA [Click to enlarge]

There are few things in life more traumatic than suffering the loss of one's own identity. On Aug. 24, the planet formerly known as Pluto had its previous identity revoked. Pluto, the little planet that couldn't, is now classified as a dwarf planet. A dwarf planet is different from a normal planet in that it does not have the sufficient mass to gravitationally clear the debris surrounding it. Aside from any personal grief Pluto's demotion may cause among the astronomical community, one obvious impact Pluto's new status will have is on the world of academia.

Travis Rector, a professor of physics and astronomy at UAA, said that Pluto's reclassification could mean astronomy students will need to purchase new books."It will affect the textbook industry. They were waiting for the (International Astronomical Union's) decision before putting together next year's textbooks," Rector said. "But it won't affect content much; we already taught that Pluto was different from the other planets."

The decision to reclassify Pluto came from the IAU, a collection of almost 10,000 professional astronomers, who voted by hand to change Pluto from planet to dwarf planet. Rector was one of those who voted in favor of changing Pluto's status.

"It's not because we don't like Pluto," he said. Rector first opposed the change saying that he felt that Pluto as a planet had sentimental value, but due to changes in what is known about Pluto, a reclassification was necessary."It's like different species in biology," Rector said. "You must look at the different characteristics to define them."

The IAU is the official governing body for dealing with astronomically related issues."It defines uniform standards for all astronomers to follow," Rector said. "There are companies that will sell star names, but they are not recognized by the IAU."Rector and other astronomers who voted felt that Pluto no longer fit the new definition of a planet. Pluto has other objects in its orbit, unlike the eight planets. According to the IAU, this is the main difference between a planet and a dwarf planet.

Rector explained that Pluto is one of many Kuiper Belt objects, all of which share the same origin."It's a belt of icy chunks of debris left over from when the planets formed," Rector said.Despite all the apparent changes, Rector and others in the astronomy department do not believe that much will change in the way in which Pluto is taught to students.

"There will be no major impact in the department, as far as I know," said Donald Martins, Chair of the Physics and Astronomy Department. "We'll be introducing new terminology such as 'dwarf planet.'"

Rector also expressed frustration over all the commotion being made about the change in Pluto's reclassification.

"It doesn't change anything about Pluto; it reflects what we now know about it," he said.For more on the IAU and its decision, visit www.iau.org.

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