From the culturelab blog on New Scientist:
Pluto
Greetings, planet Earth. It's Pluto. Remember me? Ever since your astronomers had their "big meeting" in 2006, I've heard Earth dwellers saying I'm not a planet anymore, and I'm fed up.
At least I'm getting some respect in journalist Alan Boyle's new book, The Case for Pluto - a lot more than from some other authors I won't mention (you know who you are, Neil deGrasse Tyson). It's a great account of my place in history and culture, the science of the solar system, and the rough ride I've been getting recently.
Best of all, he's sympathetic to my cause and gives me credit for my planety features: I'm big enough for my own gravity to make me round and I have an atmosphere.
Still, one positive portrayal can't make up for all the criticism I get from Earth. I may be on the small side, but is that any reason to pick on me? Compared to Jupiter, you're small too, Earth! You say I can't be in the planet club because I haven't cleared my orbit of other objects.
Ok, sure, Neptune does cross my path from time to time. But look at all the asteroids in Earth's neighbourhood. I heard one of them crashed into you just the other day, and I hope it hit you in the eye!
If you're looking for an object that doesn't fit in, take a look in the mirror, Earth. You're the only solar system body whose surface is covered in liquid water. And you have a huge concentration of oxygen in your atmosphere - way more than any other solar system body.
While we're at it, let's talk about longevity, a topic I'm glad to see Boyle raises in his book. When the sun goes red giant in a few billion years, guess who's going to get burned to a crisp? That would be you, Earth. Meanwhile, I'll still be out here, keeping it real.
Planetarily yours,
Pluto (as told to David Shiga)
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