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The problem with recognizing Pluto is that Eris, Haumea, Makemake, Gonggong, Quaoar, Sedna, Ceres, Orcus, and perhaps also Salacia also should probably be included, and that makes for a nightmare of a mnemonic. As we all know, classification is decided on mnemonic plausibility.
My Very Educated Mother’s Cousin Just Served Us Nine Outstanding Pizzas - (Somehow,) Her Quiche Might Get Officially Surpassed
Now, you only have to remember that Makemake and Orcus are in the Kuiper belt (past Neptune’s orbit), and that maybe that Salacia is optional, and you can puzzle out the two repeated letters.
I spent too long on this.
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“Educated”
We eliminated Earth by accident.
Pluto and the others are planets even without including them all in the mnemonic. The mnemonic is for the first 9 planets, just like you only remember the first few digits of pi.
Pluto was not the first 9th planet. Then again we were up to 13(?) at one point.
Pluto was
Because Pluto is the 9th planet?
How are you counting?
The moons of Jupiter and Saturn were called satellite planets from their discovery until sometime in the 20th century.
The first several asteroids were called planets, until enough were discovered that the term ‘asteroid’ was invented and they were renamed.
The first Kuiper belt objects were called planets, until enough were discovered that it turns out Pluto is mostly just a particularly reflective example.
It’s only a problem when you reach a certain level of astronomical knowledge. 99% of us don’t and won’t give a shit and think the people who decided Pluto’s no longer a planet are simply assholes.
All adults know what a “grandfather clause” is and are capable of applying that to Pluto.
Pluto is and will always be Hot Shit.
