The Pluto Files: The Rise and Fall of America's Favorite Planet [Hardcover]

Neil deGrasse Tyson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 26, 2009

The New York Times best-selling author chronicles America's love affair with Pluto, man's best (celestial) friend.

In August 2006, the International Astronomical Union voted Pluto out of planethood. Far from the sun, wonder Pluto has any fans. Yet during the mounting debate over rallied behind the extraterrestrial underdog. Disney created an irresistible pup by the same name, and, as one NASA scientist put it, Pluto was "discovered by an American for America." Pluto is entrenched in our cultural, patriotic view of the cosmos, and Neil deGrasse Tyson is on a quest to discover why.

Only Tyson can tell this story: he was involved in the first exhibits to demote Pluto, and, consequently, Pluto lovers have freely shared their opinions with him, including endless hate mail from third graders. In his typically witty way, Tyson explores the history of planet recently been judged a dwarf. 35 color, 10 black-and-white

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

From Pluto's 1930 discovery to the emotional reaction worldwide to its demotion from planetary status, astrophysicist, science popularizer and Hayden Planetarium director deGrasse Tyson (Death by Black Hole) offers a lighthearted look at the planet. Astronomical calculations predicted the presence of a mysterious and distant Planet X decades before Clyde Tombaugh spotted it in 1930. DeGrasse Tyson speculates on why straw polls show Pluto to be the favorite planet of American elementary school students (for one, Pluto sounds the most like a punch line to a hilarious joke). But Pluto's rock and ice composition, backward rotation and problematic orbit raised suspicions. As the question of Pluto's nature was being debated by scientists, the newly constructed Rose Center for Earth and Space at the Hayden Planetarium quietly but definitively relegated Pluto to the icy realm of Kuiper Belt Objects (cold, distant leftovers from the solar system's formation), raising a firestorm. Astronomers discussed and argued and finally created an official definition of what makes a planet. This account, if a bit Tyson-centric, presents the medicine of hard science with a sugarcoating of lightness and humor. 35 color and 10 b&w illus. (Jan.)
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Review

An eclectic delight. Readers will laugh at the collection of song lyrics and cartoons inspired by the great Pluto-versy. . . . Smile at the photocopied letters from elementary-school children. (Fred Burtz - Seattle Times )

Expertly relates the history and science of Pluto. (Jeffrey Beall - Library Journal ) --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company; First Edition edition (January 26, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393065200
• ISBN-13: 978-0393065206
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 0.8 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (58 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #112,004 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Neil deGrasse Tyson is an astrophysicist with the American Museum of Natural History, director of the world-famous Hayden Planetarium, a monthly columnist for Natural History, and an award-winning author. He lives in New York City.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

104 of 109 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Dad's Planet September 15, 2009

By Alden C. Tombaugh

Format:Hardcover

My father discovered Pluto in 1930. Neil Tyson's book is an interesting and enlightening history of the discovery and the controversy surrounding the new definition of major Planets and Tyson's decision to omit Pluto from the depiction of our solar system at the new Rose Center in New York. Although I do not agree with all his points of view, I do applaud his endeavors in astronomy, writing and education.
Alden Tombaugh

41 of 43 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspirational and Engaging! January 21, 2009

By Mrs. Scarola

Format:Hardcover

Once again, Dr. Tyson engages our minds with a timely topic much grander than our own existence. My [...] science students have been enraptured by this fiery debate. Dr. Tyson is a wonderful "EXPLAINER" who makes science come alive for those with little or no formal education in the field. His writing style is identical to his witty dramatic live lectures. Highly recommended!!
Dr. Tyson... I hope you know how much the younger Americans NEED you to continue your work. Your enthusiasm for science is contagious and that is just what Young America needs to take the reins of scientific research in today's ever-changing world. You are needed and LOVED!!

Mrs. Scarola
Pembroke Pines Charter Middle School
Pembroke Pines, Florida

P.S. My students REALLY want you to come visit us. There's NO SNOW here in SE Florida!

63 of 74 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars No graphics in the Kindle Edition February 23, 2009

By J. Wooten

Format:Kindle Edition

I rate the hardback book with 5 stars, but the kindle edition with only 2 stars because of the missing cartoons, photos, charts and graphics. The essay is still well worth reading, but you will miss a lot if you don't have the graphics. I ended up going to my local bookstore and purchasing the hardback when I realized that the Kindle edition had left out the 35 color illustrations and 10 black and white illustrations. I know that Kindle doesn't show color, but the color illustrations could have been reproduced in gray scale.

It is a great book, but a mediocre kindle edition.

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Pluto Praugnosis looks favorable January 24, 2009

By George Cooper

Format:Hardcover

A contemporary topic, Pluto's planetary reclassification calamity has been both an emotional and a scientific issue ever since the N.Y. Times revealed that the Rose Center (Hayden Planetarium) had left Pluto out of the planetary lineup. Dr. Tyson has been in the thick of it even before the story broke. His account of the events and colorful comments that ensued is enjoyably portrayed throughout the book. As in his other books, his effervescent writing style makes this book an easy read even though he includes a lot of names and facts pertinent to the history if Pluto and its new status. It is a short 160 page book filled with many color images and illustrations, which allowed me to read it in only one day. Many, if not most, of the images are quite humorous adding to the enjoyment. Young and old will enjoy will enjoy this book!

Regarding the ongoing, though likely diminishing, debate about Pluto's status, I liked his statement, "You're having an argument over something you generate rather than what is fundamental to the universe." Science is about organization of objective discoveries, and subjective views should always play a subordinate roll. This includes those warm fuzzies we feel for certain traditional views, including Pluto's prior rank as planet. Science is not about a consensus of our feelings, but whether or not quality science is being conducted. Dr. Tyson presents the objective evidence of both sides fairly, and gives lucid reasoning for his position, which I suspect most scientifically-minded folks will eventually concur with his views.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A Lighthearted and Scientific Defense of Pluto's Demotion February 1, 2009

By Loyd E. Eskildson HALL OF FAME

Format:Hardcover

Pluto was discovered in 1930 and named after the Roman god of the underworld; that same year, Disney created a cartoon pup of the same name. Pluto also found space in the Periodic Table (#94 - plutonoium), along with #92 uranium and #93 neptunium. The notion of dropping Pluto from the list of planets has created a media firestorm since it was first proposed in 2000 that continues to this day - some even thought it a publicity ploy to boost attendance at the author's Hayden Planetarium museum. However, in 2006, the International Astronomical Union officially downgraded Pluto from "planet" to "dwarf planet," taking some of the pressure off the author, Dr. Tyson.

Problems with considering Pluto a planet include the fact that there are seven moons measure larger than Pluto (Earth's, four of Jupiter's, and one each belonging to Saturn and Neptune), it is the only planet to cross the orbit of another planet (Neptune), it has less than 5% the mass of Mercury - the next smallest planet, and its largest moon (Charon) is so large vs. Pluto that they orbit a spot not within Pluto, but in free space.

Pluto's average high temperature is -365 degrees F., is only twice the size of Ceres (largest known asteroid), and 50X the size of the largest comet. The planet consists of about 70% rock and 30% ice; however, given that ice is much lighter than rock, about 55% of its volume is ice.

The biggest problem with labeling Pluto a planet is that beginning in 1992, scientists began finding additional objects orbiting the Sun beyond Neptune. Astronomers believed that hundreds, maybe thousands more would be found, and that it was inevitable that one would be larger than Pluto. In 2005, Eris, 27% larger than Pluto was found in that same area, since named the Kuiper belt.

Dr.... Tyson maintains a light-hearted approach throughout the book, even including an sincere, but funny and apologetic letter from a 7-year-old formerly angry about Tyson's position vs. Pluto the ex-planet. Numerous humerous cartoons on the subject are also included. Read more ›