If you have read my colleague and fellow columnist Dan Hahn’s column, you will know I believe wholeheartedly, Pluto is a planet. Nothing anyone can say, will change my mind.

Ever since I was a kid, I have had a love for space, it was one of my favorite subjects to learn about. I was only five when Pluto was demoted to a dwarf planet but even as a twenty-two-year-old, I still believe in its planethood.

I mean, it is still called a “dwarf planet” so the word planet is still in that demotion. I know, that is not very concrete proof, but why not just say “Oh it is no longer a planet, so we are just going to take it off the planet list and call it Pluto solely.”

Pluto also has five moons orbiting around it, which to me feels like it still should have its classification of a planet.

In the past, I have heard that any spherical, celestial body with moons orbiting around it can be considered a planet. I feel that makes sense and would be completely fine adding more planets. Just because these bodies are small, does not make them any less worthy for the title of planet.

In Dan’s article, he explains the fact that Pluto is sometimes closer to the Sun than Neptune, which does mess up the order of the standard planets. Though, this to me, does not change the fact Pluto is still a planet.

Pluto is still one of the biggest objects in our solar system to orbit the Sun. Yes, there are other objects such as Eris that are bigger than Pluto, so I also believe Eris could also be classified as a planet.

I would not mind the addition of another planet considering that Eris does have the requirements to be a planet apart from it not being gravitationally strong as the other planets.

It almost feels like we are too afraid to just admit there is more than eight planets. Our knowledge of space is always expanding, so why are we so strict on this eight-planet rule?

Going back to Dan’s article, I know astronomers and astrophysicists are literally space scientists, but I will not “get over it” as said by Neil deGrasse Tyson on TikTok. I was always told to not believe everything you see on the internet so sorry Neil; I will not be getting over it.

On the topic of following what scientists stay, what about historians? We are so quick to believe everything scientists say but continuously challenge history textbooks and learn both sides rather than sticking to one point of view.

Why is this any different? As a society, we are so quick to believe everything on the internet or what apparent experts say.

Overall, do want the biggest piece of evidence? It is because I said so. We all have our right to our own opinion and mine will stick with Pluto being a planet.

Kierstyn Budz can be reached at [email protected] or 217-581-2812.