What? Pluto's Having a House Guest!

My post the other day about Pluto got me all fired up about the little planet. (Dwarf planet just isn't politically correct. I think it hurts his feelings.) So I did some further investigation into our distant friend. What I found out was that NASA has sent a probe to the icy world. Did you know that? I didn't... You would think a nerd such as myself would have known SOMETHING about this mission.

Well anyway, the mission is called "New Horizons" and the craft was launched on January 19th 2006. As an interesting side note, the probe is carrying some of the ashes of the man who discovered the planet, Clyde W. Tombaugh.

The cool thing about the mission is that it will be approaching Pluto in 2015. The probe will be at its closest point on July 14th 2015. From there, it will head on to the Kuiper Belt to explore that region of our solar system.

Here is a cool link to NASA and information about "New Horizons"
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/newhorizons/main/index.html

I'm looking forward to what they find out about the now defunct planet. Maybe they will have to change their mind and re-instate it's planetary status.


-Red
www.jeffjake.com
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Twitter @MortisG187

Email Jeff at author@jeffjake.com

Pluto's Planetary Predicament

Now I don't know about you, but when I was in school and we studied our solar system, Pluto was a planet. I'm not sure what Pluto did to have its planetary status revoked, but I would say it was a significant transgression. (must of made fun of Uranus)

Whatever Pluto did, it cost its planetary status and on August, 24th 2006 was downgraded to a "Dwarf Planet". Personally I don't think that is politically correct. I think they should use the term "Little Planet".

Anyway, while its status is still debated to this day, it does have several moons. (I would think this would be a clear indicator that it is a PLANET, but who am I) Five at this point, Charon, Nix, Hydra, and two unnamed bodies discovered in 2011 and 2012.

A recent contest was started to name the two newly discovered moons. William Shatner, Star Trek's Captain Kirk, proposed to name the two moons Vulcan and Romulus. Romulus was kicked out, however, Vulcan was allowed on the ballet. Despite some scientific naysayers, Vulcan came out on top with 174,062 votes. No other recommendation came close or even broke 100,000 votes. Second place went to Cerberus with 99,432 votes.

Now it's not official... Apparently some high and mighty scientist have the final say... But it's my hope they stick with the popular vote. So all you Trekies and Trekkers out there, keep your fingers crossed.

Live long and prosper.

-Red
www.jeffjake.com
www.facebook.com/jeffreyrjake
Twitter @MortisG187
Email: author@jeffjake.com

Be sure to check out Jeff's book, Assassin's Retribution.