I have similar feelings to Kenny on that because of tradition I want to say that Pluto should be a planet. But as I look further into this topic and read what the other contributors thought i believe that Pluto should stay declassified. I mean science was so generic in the time of Pluto's discovery. Many people think that because so many people today know Pluto as the 9th planet that we should keep it as a planet but it is like calling someone Joe for 5 years then realizing there name is Harry. Would you still call him Joe? Most people wouldn't. Just because we have called it a planet for so long means no reason why it should still be a planet.

In my mind Pluto will always remain as one of the nine planets. Science should have left well enough alone in this case, leaving iconic Pluto as a normal planet. Especially when you take into considration that Pluto barely misses the criteara for being a normal planet, in my mind it sounds a bit nitpicky to change something well known based on a few miniscule details. As Caroline stated 'whos to say we are no a dwarf planet?' Like us Pluto has moons in its orbit, and in contrast we are also look very miniscule when compared to some of the much larger planets in our solar system. Although Im not pleased about the declasification, whats done is done, to change it back now would seem foolish.

Much more eloquent... :)

I personally believe Pluto should be classified as a planet, not just because I have grown up with it as a planet during my childhood, but who defines what a planet is and what is not. Sure, Pluto is small and insignificant, but who's to say that hypothetically, Earth is dwarf planet in comparison to others in our galaxy and universe. Perhaps aliens are looking at our planet and commenting on how Earth is a minuscule and is not significant in any way! I think not. Besides, who decided that Pluto fits the definition of a dwarf planet when the scientific community hasn't even come close to observing a tiny fraction of the forms in space? Pluto even goes above and beyond to have its own moon (not mentioning that the moon and Pluto's gravity pull each other!) I think before we start classifying planets on whether they are a planet or not, we need to discover more and more about all the intergalactic bodies around us.

Planet

I extremely believe that Pluto should in fact be a planet. This "criteria" established by certain scientists is entirely subjective, there is no reason to have certain rules that make pluto not a planet. Why not just work the opposite way and use this criteria for a sub classification of planets. Like "Super" Planets or "These are Deffinetely Planets" Planets. I think that sure science is always changing, but it's seems a little ridiculous that scientist need to downsize Pluto, don't they have better things to do? Like solve our polution problems, or find water on other planets? In conclusion why not let tradition win once in a while?
-Jen

Well, tradition is important to society but I'm not sure it should be allowed to override science in this case. Think about future generations. Sure, we grew up with Pluto as a planet, but if we tell our children that Pluto is a planet, even though by scientific definition it's not, then all we're doing is teaching a lie. I don't think future generations should be taught falsities because we're too uncomfortable with deviations from tradition. Part of the beauty of science is that it is always changing. If we don't accept the changes in perspective that science brings to the modern world than we might as well go back to the days of Galileo when tradition prevented the advancement of science completely.

In my opinion, we should keep Pluto as a planet. I did my 4th grade (or maybe 3rd) project on Pluto and have grown up "believing" in Pluto. In a sense it is like giving someone an award and then taking it away because you later realized that you gave it to the wrong person, or they didn't meet all of the qualifications. Instead the person should give the award to both the recipient and the accidental recipient.....back to Pluto: I think Pluto should remain a planet for tradition sake and Eris should become a new planet. Although science was not as advanced in the past and Pluto was mistakenly named a planet it can still be called a planet, and we will all know it doesn't meet the third requirement. But it is the smallest planet so therefore it should be given a little flexibility....right?! :)