By Robin Weaver
What touches my heart? A myriad of things brings a tear to
the eye and a smile to my face -- kittens, babies, the people I love.
While those wonderful things might garner an “aww,” or a “that’s
nice,” or even a “bless your heart,” talking about them won’t really entertain
you. Have you already fallen asleep?
Well let me wake you up with my geeky love of science. And Pluto.
YES, PLUTO. With Valentine’s day
just around the corner, we must honor the planet that literally wears a heart
on its surface (See photo below).
I’ve been fascinated with little Pluto since the day I
memorized the name of the nine planets. Obviously, I know Pluto is no longer a
planet. Really, is there anyone on normal-sided
planet Earth who doesn’t know poor Pluto is now a dwarf? Frankly, I don’t get all the fuss? After all,
isn’t being a dwarf planet far preferable to being a gas giant? Pluto is
actually the kitten of the solar system—just look at the picture, all crimson
and shiny white heart. Almost makes you
want to hug it.
Like most heroes, Pluto has been greatly misunderstood. Discovered in 1930, scientists thought Pluto was
a cold dead world, not unlike our moon, although Pluto is only two-thirds the
diameter of the moon. Then the New Horizons mission by NASA changed all
that. We now know the planet has an
active geology with ice volcanoes; a mountain range 11,000 feet tall; and a
subsurface ocean. Even though tiny Pluto
is over 3.5 billion miles from the sun, some scientists believe it might harbor
primitive life. There’s a lot packed into that little dwarf.
Pluto epitomizes the wonders of discovery. This little planet—excuse
me, dwarf planet--demonstrates that things are not always what they seem. In a
remote way, it demonstrates that good things do come in small packages. It also
reminds us that we have so much to learn, and that there is joy in the learning.
It gives us hope for life, both alien and humankind.
And I hope you have a fabulous Valentine’s day.
