Thu 14 September 2006 - Pluto aka Asteroid 134340
The grade 5 kids at the school were busy earlier this term building models of the solar system. Like many, Isaac’s was based on a spare hoola hoop, with planets of various sizes and colours hanging off it by fishing-wire.
Most of the models came home a few weeks ago, but the best were called back into school for last night’s school Science Fair. Isaac’s friend Peter’s was worthy, and I saw Peter and his mum Christine struggling to manoevre it back into the class room one day last week.
The big question though, was if Pluto should remain. When the models were built, it was still officially a planet. Since it has now been declared to be just an asteroid (number 134340), should the models have been revised?
Perhaps to reflect the whole conundrum, a sign should have been added to The Planet Formerly Known as Pluto, with a big question-mark on it?
Unfortunately I didn’t find out what the answer was on this, as Isaac was sick yesterday and we didn’t get to attend.