Pluto's defenders are still fighting 20 years after its demotion

Since it was stripped of planetary status, Pluto’s defenders have been fighting

Pluto's defenders are still fighting 20 years after its demotion

Twenty years after the IAU stripped Pluto of planetary status, the debate has only grown more polarized. Scientists like Philip Metzger argue the definition is scientifically useless, while advocates like Laurel Kornfeld call the vote a mistake. The article explores the geophysical vs. dynamicist camps, the role of Eris, and the ongoing campaign to reinstate Pluto, even reaching NASA's administrator.

The definition of a planet they created, you can’t use it at all. It makes the definition of a planet completely non-useful in science.

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2026-08-31