It’s technically still a holiday

In August of 2006, Pluto was downgraded to a “dwarf planet,” which meant Pluto was no longer a planet (Library of Congress). Many people were saddened at the declaration, having considered Pluto “the cutest planet,” but it lost its standing for very good reasons.

To be considered an actual planet, there are three things required: an orbit around the sun, a sufficient mass to assume hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round shape), and an area that “cleared the neighborhood” (has done a full circle) around its orbit. Pluto, unfortunately only meets the first two of the requirements, which means Pluto has to be declared a dwarf planet instead of an actual full-sized planet.

Still, on February 18, some people celebrate the discovery of Pluto, even if it is a dwarf planet (National Day Calendar). An American astronomer, Clyde Tombaugh, made the discovery of Pluto on February 18th, 1930 and 90 years later, it is worth honoring.

But why is Pluto important in the first place? Well to BBC , Pluto represents the final frontier. Compared to the other planets, Pluto is considered the “misfit.” While the other planets in our solar system are giant, puffy balls of gas, Pluto is rocky, icy, and much smaller than Earth.

National Geographic speaks about how it would take nine and half years to get to Pluto, which means almost a decade in space. But is it worth it to reach a planet like Pluto that is smaller than our own moon?

Something so small would have a different system of time. NASA says that 6.4 days here on Earth is one day on Pluto.

On National Pluto Day, even if it isn’t scientifically a planet, many people still consider it to maintain its former status and that it “deserves better.” Like all of the others, it, too, has its own unique story!