The state of Arizona has declared Pluto its “official state planet,” even though it was relegated to “dwarf planet” status nearly two decades ago.
Gov. Katie Hobbs signed the bill Friday, but later dodged questions about whether Pluto is a full-fledged planet. The Arizona Daily Star reported..
“I’m proud of Arizona’s pioneering efforts in space discovery,” Hobbs said.
According to the paper, Pluto was discovered in 1930 by astronomer Clyde Tombaugh at Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona.
It is the only planet discovered in the United States.
“What Clyde is all about is just amazing. He’s just sitting under a telescope and taking his time taking pictures and looking for planets,” said Arizona Rep. Justin Wilmes, a self-proclaimed “historian.” (R-Phoenix) said. Otaku who applauded.” pluto law.
International Astronomical Union Voted in 2006 They stripped Pluto of its official status as a planet, determining that the icy object at the edge of the solar system did not meet the full definition of a planet.
According to the IAU, Pluto’s low gravity makes it a “dwarf planet” because it hasn’t “cleared out other objects from adjacent regions” like asteroids and other space rocks over time like other planets. It has been reclassified.
Wilmes said he didn’t care.
“It might be important for people who are picky or fussy about things,” the Republican told the Daily Star.
Others were less enthusiastic about naming the dwarf planet Arizona’s official state planet.
“Scientifically, they’ve taken away that they’re planets,” said Sen. Sally Ann Gonzalez, D-Calif., one of the five senators who voted against the bill. Tucson) said.
Gonzalez said he believes lawmakers should always take scientific information into account, adding that “as a legislature, as an organization, sometimes we just leave it out.”
