The Great Planetary Identity Crisis

The Great Planetary Identity Crisis
pluto-memes, astronomy-memes, planets-memes, classification-memes, solar-system-memes | ScienceHumor.io

The planetary classification wars continue! This chart brilliantly satirizes how the definition of "planet" is surprisingly subjective. From the 2006 demotion of poor Pluto to the philosophical "what if space itself is a planet, duuude?" existentialist take.

The "Spiteful" category is peak astronomy pettiness—counting only Pluto as revenge for its demotion. Meanwhile, the "Regolithic" definition would make practically everything a planet, because who doesn't have a little dirt and ice?

My favorite has to be the "Empiricist" who only counts planets they've personally observed. Classic scientist move: "If I haven't seen it with my own eyes and equipment, does it really exist?"

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