Is Pluto a Planet?

In 2006, a collection of scientists known as the International Astronomical Union produced a scientific definition for a planet. This definition came with certain criteria, which Pluto failed to meet, and so Pluto was not a planet anymore.

Recently, a different group of scientists, deciding that the IAU definition was incorrect, and spurred on by public outcry over Pluto's "demotion", published an article with a different definition for planets, which now not only includes Pluto, but 109 other objects in our solar system, including our Moon!

So, which is it? Is Pluto a planet, or not? What makes a planet? Why should we care?

The Difference a Year Makes...

The other day, I got McDonald's for dinner, and it set off an entire chain of thoughts I've had percolating for some time.

Last weekend, while Juliette was attending a heavy metal show, I went out for some fast food. I walked in, ordered on the machine, picked up the meal, and I was about 15 steps away from the restaurant when I realized that I didn't know how much it cost. I hadn't checked. I hadn't agonized over it. I just bought it.

That's a major difference from where I was a year ago.

One Year with NSR!

Hello! Bienvenue! Welcome to Embrace Space, and my first post of 2017! I just finished a crazy marathon of work, and I thought I would take the time to talk a little more about my year with NSR!