Despite this encouraging news, Pluto haters are doing everything they can to keep our beloved old friend out of the planet family. This is the story so far ...
On March 24, 1930, a beautiful new planet was welcomed into our planet family. Thanks to the suggestion of an 11-year-old girl, it was named Pluto.
For 70 happy years, the 9 planets lived together in harmony, doing wholesome planetty things like orbiting around the sun, having occasional moons, and just generally being space objects together.
Then, at the turn of the century, the unthinkable happened.
A shadowy agency called the International Astronomical Union arbitrarily redefined what it means to be a planet family, and people started to question their love for Pluto.
With tears in their eyes, the world's children implored us not to turn our back on our dear friend.
But their impassioned pleas fell on deaf ears.
And in 2006, Pluto was thrown out of the planet family without so much as a goodbye.
For 8 years now, the Pluto haters – smug and unapologetic – have rejoiced that our solar system is the small, elitist place that fits their worldview.
But now, thanks to a brave and progressive debate at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center, there is just a glimmer of hope that we can have our friend back.
But do we want to? Do we have room in our bitter souls to admit the mistake we made and begin to heal the wounds of the last 8 years?
The choice is yours.
