Robert Morehead

Columbia University, B.S. Candidate

Eight is Enough: The Great Pluto Debate

In 2006 the International Astronomical Union demoted Pluto from planethood amid much controversy and public outcry. Was this a case of stodgy old astronomers picking on poor Pluto, or are there good reasons to re-classify it as something other than a planet? We will explore this question by examining the history of Pluto's discovery, investigating the debate that led to Pluto's new status and looking at what the future holds for the Solar System's underdog.