A pair of scientists employed by nonprofit research institutes used an Internet petition drive and plan an alternative conference as part of a grassroots campaign to restore Pluto's planetary cred. Could Pluto be the next Snakes on a Plane?
The New York Times (Kenneth Chang) relates the story of Mark V. Sykes, director of the Planetary Science Institute (EIN 33-0175263 Form 990) and S. Alan Stern of the Space Science and Engineering division of the Southwest Research Institute (EIN 74-1070544 Form 990). The two gathered about 300 signatures using an online petition site (iPetitions). The petition signatories are overwhelmingly from the US.
The scientists contest the decision of the International Astronomical Union to recategorize Pluto as a dwarf planet along with former asteroid Ceres and the newly discovered object 2003 UB313 (nicknamed Xena). The BBC has a more extensive article on the scientific backlash of the vote, which was conducted with a mere 424 astronomers in attendance in the session on the last day of the conference.
The two scientists next hope to convene a scientific conference to ratify an alternative planet definition.
Planetary Science institute is itself a bit of a dwarf nonprofit, with a budget of about $3 million and a staff of 33. The Southwestern Research Institute is a $389 million organization (its income almost entirely earned rather than donated) with a staff of over 2,800. The Space Science and Engineering division is just one of a number of practice areas for the organization.
The idea of starting a grassroots movement using only Internet buzz seems to be becoming quite widespread, especially on the Internet. It remains to be seen whether any of these movements will ever succeed (for reference, consider Howard Dean and Snakes on a Plane).
The movement has merit. The larger body agreed on a definition of a planet that expanded the number. A small group after the majority of IAU member left clandestinely changed the definition and with just a few members left conducted a show of hands vote. Go to www.savepluto.com please and vote to support this effort. Pluto has at least 2 moons and three if your do not count Charon as half of a binary planet.
Grass roots efforts work if you who is reading this right now go and vote right now then tell someone else.
www.savepluto.com
Posted by: Scott McCoy | November 20, 2006 at 12:38 PM
Please save the planet PLUTO!!!!!
Posted by: Robert Horner | January 04, 2007 at 04:42 PM