A while back in 2006, the International Astronomical Union reclassified Pluto as a dwarf planet. However, reclassifying Pluto as a dwarf planet has caused disagreements on whether it’s a dwarf or a planet.

I vastly disagree with reclassifying Pluto as a dwarf planet. One reason is the definition is a little rough around the edges. The three criteria were: No. 1, a planet must orbit the sun; No. 2, a planet’s gravity must be massive enough to form it into the shape of a ball; but No. 3 is a bit unclear. It is that a planet must clear it’s orbital neighborhood. How big is this neighborhood — 8,000 yards, 3,000,000,000 meters, 986,000,000 miles?

Another thing is Pluto is technically in Neptune’s orbit. No one has seemed to question if Neptune is a real planet. In conclusion, Pluto should be a planet for various reasons, such as the voter count, definition and history. One thing, however, is very clear:

Change is usually awesome. But in some cases like this, change is very questionable.

Garrett Willingham

Pendleton