OAN’s Brooke Mallory
4:02 PM – Monday, April 1, 2024
Arizona has officially adopted Pluto, a celestial body that had previously been relegated to “dwarf planet” status.
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Thanks to a bill approved by Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, Pluto is now included in the Arizona Revised Statutes, along with symbols such as the bolet tai and the cactus wren.
The politician leading the initiative, Rep. Justin Wilmes (R-Ariz.), describes himself as a “history nerd” and admires the discovery of Pluto in 1930 at Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff. His passion was the driving force behind his legislative efforts.
cried Wilmes, “The whole story of Clyde.” [Tombaugh] It’s just amazing,” he said, in awe of Tombaugh’s achievements in pre-digital astronomy.
Pluto’s distinction as the only “planet” discovered in the United States makes it stand out in the history of the American Southwest.
Despite Pluto being downgraded from full planet status by the International Astronomical Union, Wilmes seemed unfazed by the scientific community’s designation.
In agreement, Governor Hobbs (D-Ariz.) declared, “I am proud of Arizona’s pioneering efforts in space discovery.”
Wilmes went on to say that he sees this as an opportunity to not only inspire the next generation of scientists and explorers, but also draw attention and tourism to Flagstaff. He also speculated, “Maybe this is also part of the tourism industry.”
But opponents of the legislation, such as Sen. Sally Ann Gonzalez (D-Ariz.), emphasized the importance of “scientific accuracy.”
Additionally, Sen. Rosanna Gabaldon (D-Ariz.) argued that the state should focus on more pressing issues for now.
The House vote on the formal designation has already passed with flying colors.
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