Pluto has been demoted.

It’s true. These things take some time to circulate around, but the reports are accurate and precise. The news has reached Earth and the other planets. Pluto is no longer a planet. It is now grouped with a diminished band of dwarf planets.

In 2006, in Prague, Czech Republic, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) voted on the planets. By a clear majority, but with significant dissent, those scientists turned their heads to the heavens, spied the nine planets and approved a new definition of “planet” for our solar system. Pluto, where are you, boy?

Under the new definition, a planet must have three character traits: 1. It must orbit our sun; 2. It must be round; and 3. it must dominate its neighbors. Pluto is round and orbits the sun, but, in the eyes of those visionary viewers, Pluto does not dominate its neighbors. This exclusionary criteria apparently is satisfied because Pluto does not sufficiently clear a way through the asteroids, comets and other debris along its path.

Poor little Pluto’s orbit is a bit untidy. In its way, it resembles the yard around a dog’s house. Toys, bowls and bones are turned and scattered about. You’ve seen the picture in the children’s book — the dog house and the friendly homey littered backyard.

Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck call from their rickety old car. Pluto, the true companion, runs and jumps into the rumble seat. They’re off on a new adventure. No time to tidy up. Who would want to? Fun is on the way.

One of my favorites is “The Haunted House.” It’s so spooky and scary and shivery. At the end, the three ghosts are chasing Mickey and Donald. Pluto sees something. That ghost has on a pair of shoes!  Pluto rushes over, pulls off the sheet and exposes the bank robber. Singledoggedly, the lovable mutt subdues the bandits, fetches the sheriff and earns a tidy reward for his master and friend, who drive off into the sunset with Pluto in the rumble seat holding a new bone in his mouth to add to the collection back home. His surroundings may be a bit untidy, but Pluto sure dominated that gang of bad guys and brought needed order to an old house and its surroundings.

Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto — maybe we should let the first 8 planets in their order vote on #9? It is their neighborhood. Perhaps they like their backyard to be a bit untidy, a friendly homey place for their happy backdoor relative? There will always be a few scientists peering over the fence with nets in their hands ready to catch a wandering mutt and haul him off to dwarf planet pond. Who’s in charge anyway? I say let the Big Eight vote for their friend and true companion.

I think we know how those eight will vote — jump into the rumble seat, Pluto, we’re off on a new planetary adventure.

Hold on tight and enjoy the sights,

Grandpa Jim