Pluto Day
I refuse to accept Pluto’s resignation as a planet.
Amy Lee
If you’re like us, you grew up with a solar system that had nine planets in it. You also grew up in world that didn’t teach new math, but that’s a rant for a different day.
Then one day they suddenly decided that designating Pluto as a planet was just wrong, and our most distant friend in the solar system suddenly was told he wasn’t good enough for the planet club anymore.
From that time on, Pluto would forever be considered a ‘dwarf planet’, which is kind of a consolation prize for those not cool enough for the big planet club. Pluto Day celebrates the discovery of Pluto in 1930, when it was designated as a planet, and that’s how it should have stayed!
How to Celebrate Pluto Day
Learn About Pluto Day
The best way to celebrate Pluto Day is to learn as much about this planet (yes we said PLANET) as you can.
It’s got an interesting history, and a composition of some familiar substances. Oh yes, for those who’d like to know? Pluto was named by Venetia Burney, an 11 year old who had a fascination with classical mythology.
Visit a Planetarium
A great way to get more connected with the solar system in general, and this planet in particular, might be to head out to a place where it’s possible to watch films, see displays and learn more about Pluto in celebration of Pluto Day.
Perhaps there would be an opportunity to get access to a telescope that would allow you to look at the stars — or even Pluto, itself.
Watch a Pluto Documentary
Check out some films that tell the story of Pluto. From the 2015 movie, The Year of Pluto, to the 2019 documentary, Pluto and Beyond, this is a great activity to celebrate the event. Invite friends and family to join in on the fun!
History of Pluto Day
The story of how Pluto was discovered actually starts in the 1840’s, when one Urbain Le Verrier determined that there was a planet outside of Uranus, but that planet obviously wasn’t Pluto, it was Neptune.
But the same methods by which Neptune was discovered led to another beyond it. You see, Uranus was demonstrating some oddities in its orbit, oddities caused by its nearest, yet undiscovered, neighbor, Neptune.
Once they were able to actually observe Neptune, they realized that another planet must be disturbing Uranus’s orbit as well, what they were seeing couldn’t be explained merely by Neptune.
This led to a search for Planet X (an Amazing name that we think Pluto should have kept, but we’re not able to do anything about that, obviously) headed by Percival Lowell.
Unfortunately Powell would pass from this mortal coil (and into the hands of Pluto, God of the Dead) before Pluto was discovered… At least, before he would know about it.
You see, during their surveys of the deep sky in search of ‘Planet X’, two faint smudges would appear that were later to be revealed to be Pluto.
The actual discovery of Pluto happened in February of 1930 by Clyde Tombaugh. After so many years and so many lives spent searching for it, we think that Pluto deserves to remain a planet, don’t you?
Pluto Day FAQs
What inspired Venetia Burney to name Pluto after the Roman god of the underworld?
In 1930, 11-year-old Venetia Burney suggested “Pluto” for its connection to mythology and space’s dark, distant reaches.
The name also cleverly incorporated Percival Lowell’s initials, honoring the astronomer whose work led to Pluto’s discovery.
What are Pluto’s “ice volcanoes,” and how do they form?
Pluto has cryovolcanoes, which erupt ice, nitrogen, ammonia, or methane instead of lava.
The New Horizons spacecraft captured images of these unusual geological features in 2015, suggesting underground reservoirs of slushy water ice beneath Pluto’s surface.
Did people once believe Pluto could harbor life?
Early speculations imagined Pluto as a cold, distant Earth-like world. Before the 1970s, limited knowledge led to theories about subterranean oceans or icy surfaces teeming with microbial life.
Advances in science dismissed this, but some still hypothesize about microbes deep beneath Pluto’s crust.
What surprising discovery did the New Horizons spacecraft make about Pluto’s atmosphere?
New Horizons revealed that Pluto’s atmosphere is a glowing blue haze. This effect comes from sunlight interacting with tiny particles, called tholins, in its atmosphere.
The spacecraft also confirmed that Pluto’s atmosphere is gradually escaping into space.
Why do some scientists call Pluto and Charon a “binary system”?
Charon, Pluto’s largest moon, is unusually large in comparison to Pluto. Both orbit a shared center of gravity that lies outside Pluto itself, which is why many scientists classify them as a binary (or double) dwarf planet system.
What role did Pluto play in one of history’s greatest April Fools’ jokes?
In 1976, British astronomer Patrick Moore claimed a rare alignment of Jupiter and Pluto would reduce Earth’s gravity for a moment.
He encouraged listeners to jump at 9:47 a.m. Thousands claimed they felt a floating sensation, only to later realize it was an elaborate April Fools’ joke.
Why do some states in the U.S. still “recognize” Pluto as a planet?ccc
Some states, such as New Mexico and Arizona, passed resolutions affirming Pluto as a planet. These acts reflect sentimental ties to Pluto, particularly since its discoverer, Clyde Tombaugh, worked in these regions.
What quirky traditions do enthusiasts observe on Pluto Day?
Fans host “planet parties,” bake Pluto-shaped cookies, or debate its planetary status. Some even build mini-models of Pluto and Charon to reenact their unique orbits.
What is “Pluto Time,” and how can you experience it?
NASA’s “Pluto Time” campaign lets people experience light levels on Pluto by observing twilight on Earth. This is the closest match to the amount of sunlight Pluto receives during its day.
What are Pluto’s tholins, and why are they important?
Tholins are organic molecules on Pluto’s surface and in its atmosphere. These reddish compounds form when sunlight interacts with methane.
Scientists believe studying tholins could offer clues about organic chemistry in our solar system.
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