The Physic Dept.’s final Fall 2009 Whitewater Observatory Public Lecture, “Is Pluto a Planet? We debate; you decide!” will take place at 8pm on Fri., Dec. 4, in Upham Hall 140. Physics faculty Robert Benjamin and Paul Rybski will deliver a mini-lecture/mock debate. A public viewing session at Whitewater Observatory will follow the lecture at 9:15pm, weather permitting.
If you are interested in more information about Pluto, Andersen Library has resources. Search HALCat, the library catalog, to find titles such as The Pluto files: The rise and fall of America’s favorite planet (3rd-floor Main Collection, QB701 .T97 2009). Search article databases, such as the Institute of Physics electronic journals, to find articles, e.g., “What is a Planet” (The Astronomical Journal, vol. 132, no. 6, 2006, pp. 2513-2519).
Please ask a librarian for assistance with finding materials.
Make sure to get both sides of this ongoing debate. In “The Case for Pluto,” Alan Boyle presents strong scientific arguments for Pluto and dwarf planets retaining full planet status. Another good book is Dr. David Weintraub’s “Is Pluto A Planet?”
“Is Pluto a planet? a historical journey through the solar system” is available in Andersen Library’s 3rd-floor Main Collection (QB602.9 .W456 2007). The other title mentioned in the previous comment would need to be requested from another library using the ILLiad interlibrary loan service (unlses it is available in a public library near you).