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School show update: I've just finished the second school show of the day and it was the second half of the first school group. We had about 60 in the first group (the ones who were bored) and the same number in the second group. The second group were alot more lively and though they did not know about the IAU debate, they did ask "Why is it no longer a planet?" So this is what I told them
"A bunch of astronomers had got together to find out what makes a planet a planet. We all know what makes a dog a dog - it has 4 legs and goes woof woof...a cat is a cat because it has 4 legs and goes meow...but what makes a planet a planet? The astronomers came up with three things and something needs to qualify in all 3 to be a planet. Pluto got the first two but not the third."
I did not tell them what the three things were and the good thing is they were interested enough that they asked about the criteria and I told them. I also told them that Pluto is now officially a Dwarf Planet but it's not a planet. They thought that was a pretty dumb thing to call it (out of the mouthes of babes!) and they gave a round of applause for Pluto to cheer it up..LOL. They were a pretty cool group.
Peter.
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