“My Very Educated Mother Just Said: Uh-oh! No Pluto!”
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Last year’s decision to demote Pluto to a “dwarf planet” continues to rankle some members of the International Astronomical Union and planetary experts. In recounting various perspectives on both sides of the debate, the “NewsHour Science Unit” at PBS references (who else’s?) Stephen Colbert’s critique:
Astronomers Debate Pluto’s Planetary Status
Originally aired January 31, 2007. . .
Addressing the critics
Even comedian Stephen Colbert has joined the fray by grilling astrophysicist Neil Tyson, whose Hayden Planetarium in New York City took Pluto out of its planet display years ago.
NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON, American Museum of Natural History: I never wanted to kick Pluto out of the solar system. I just wanted to group it with its brethren.
STEPHEN COLBERT, Host, “The Colbert Report”: It sure sounded — a funny way of showing it.
NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON: With its icy brethren in the outer solar system, and that’s all we did at the Rose Center for Earth and Space.
STEPHEN COLBERT: So, sure, you can be anything you want, just not here, OK? Not in my backyard? That’s what you said. “Not in my backyard” to Pluto.
NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON: It’s got family where I think it’s happier there, because it’s one of the biggest of the ice planets.
STEPHEN COLBERT: Are you saying Pluto should be with its own kind, separate but equal?
NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON: Yes, I guess that it comes out that way, doesn’t it?
STEPHEN COLBERT: Doesn’t it?
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