Wednesday, January 21, 2009

"The Pluto Files" by Neil deGrasse Tyson


The Pluto Files

by

Neil deGrasse Tyson

ISBN-10: 0393065200
ISBN-13: 978-0393065206

Well, Mr. Tyson may be stepping on some toes here.

A review by Manuela Hoelterhoff, "Pluto's Enemy Speaks; Lady Comet Hunter: Manuela Hoelterhoff", appeared at Bloomberg.com .


"Naming Pluto"--a film

Pluto="Plutoid"

What's in a name?--Pluto
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6 comments:

  1. Laurel KornfeldJanuary 21, 2009 at 3:40 PM

    Tyson is wrong when he says "Plutophiles" are only Americans. I have heard from and read writings by people from all over the world who believe Pluto is a bona fide planet, not a dwarf. I also take issue with Tyson not distinguishing between round objects in hydostatic equilibrium, such as Pluto and Ceres, and shapeless, inert asteroids in his classification scheme at AMNH.

    Please do not blindly accept the decree of four percent of the IAU that Pluto is a dwarf and not a planet, as there are many professional astronomers worldwide who dispute this point. You can find their signed petition at http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/planetprotest/

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  2. MercuryJanuary 21, 2009 at 4:07 PM

    Yes Laurel, Tyson has stepped on many toes. Pluto will remain a part of the fabric of the popularization of the solar system. The public will hold Pluto near and dear and the astronomers...well, they can keep their definition for their own purposes.

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  3. MercuryJanuary 21, 2009 at 4:11 PM

    By the way Laurel, do you plan to purchase the DVD "Naming Pluto"? I won't. If you do, would you be interested in writing a review and I will byline your assessment as a separate topic.

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  4. Laurel KornfeldJanuary 22, 2009 at 10:55 AM

    How do I go about purchasing "Naming Pluto?" Do you have contact/order information? I would love to do this.

    Don't count Pluto out as a planet just yet, as there are efforts underway by both professional astronomers and lay people to have it reinstated.

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  5. MercuryJanuary 22, 2009 at 11:23 AM

    Laurel:

    To purchase a copy of the DVD email: ginita@fatherfilms.com .

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  6. MercuryJanuary 22, 2009 at 6:34 PM

    Laurel:

    I tried your email and it wouldn't open.

    Would you send your email address.

    It won't be posted.

    ReplyDelete