BARCELONA, Spain (The Adobo Chronicles) – In 2006, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) formally defined “planet,” and the new definition excluded Pluto and reclassified it as a member of the new “dwarf planet” category.  It was a move that disappointed many Plutonians.

Discovered in 1930, Pluto was originally considered the ninth planet from the sun. Many generations that preceded the millennials learned this from their science class and nothing — not even the declaration from the IAU — could change their vew of the planet world.

Schools, libraries, book publishers and Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) have banded together to protest Pluto’s declassification as a planet, arguing that the IAU move would result in astronomical costs to replace long-held planetary information in textbooks, film documentaries and other scientific educational materials.

Today, after almost a decade being bombarded with complaints and protests, the IAU relented and officially returned Pluto to its original planet status. The decision was announced at the IAU annual meeting being held in Barcelona, Spain.

On 14 July 2015, the Pluto system is due to be visited by spacecraft for the first time. The New Horizons probe will perform a flyby during which it will attempt to take detailed measurements and images of Pluto and its moons.

Pluto’s back with a vengeance!

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