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The Planetary Society Blog

By Emily Lakdawalla

Pluto's a planet, at least when it's over New Mexico

Mar. 9, 2007 | 11:25 PST | 19:25 UTC

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I don't really know how serious the New Mexico legislature is about this, but they were serious enough to pass a "Joint Memorial" stating that they, at least, consider Pluto to be a planet. Here's what the esteemed governing body has to say:

WHEREAS, the state of New Mexico is a global center for astronomy, astrophysics and planetary science; and
WHEREAS, New Mexico is home to world class astronomical observing facilities, such as the Apache Point observatory, the very large array, the Magdalena Ridge observatory and the national solar observatory; and
WHEREAS, Apache Point observatory, operated by New Mexico state university, houses the astrophysical research consortium's three-and-one-half meter telescope, as well as the unique two-and-one-half meter diameter Sloan digital sky survey telescope; and
WHEREAS, New Mexico state university has the state's only independent, doctorate-granting astronomy department; and
WHEREAS, New Mexico state university and Dona Ana county were the long-time home of Clyde Tombaugh, discoverer of Pluto; and
WHEREAS, Pluto has been recognized as a planet for seventy-five years; and
WHEREAS, Pluto's average orbit is three billion six hundred ninety-five million nine hundred fifty thousand miles from the sun, and its diameter is approximately one thousand four hundred twenty-one miles; and
WHEREAS, Pluto has three moons known as Charon, Nix and Hydra;
and
WHEREAS, a spacecraft called New Horizons was launched in January 2006 to explore Pluto in the year 2015;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that, as Pluto passes overhead through New Mexico's excellent night skies, it be declared a planet and that March 13, 2007 be declared "Pluto Planet Day" at the legislature.

Although on the face of it this resolution is a little silly, it clearly serves an important purpose -- namely, to highlight a few of the many publicly-funded scientific assets that the state of New Mexico has brought to bear on humans' questions about the universe. To me, it is great news to see a state government making a public statement that essentially says "we value space science." I hope it makes many New Mexicans look upward and enjoy their most excellent night skies, whether they think Pluto is a planet or not.

Thanks to Alan Stern for the tip on this story.

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