Pluto’s demotion

The latest collision of a meteor and near collision of an asteroid shows that the Earth hasn’t cleared the neighborhood around its orbit, which was the main criteria for demoting Pluto from full planet status.

Many astronomers don’t share the rational for the International Astronomical Union demoting Pluto to dwarf planet status. Dr Alan Stern, who leads NASA’s New Horizons mission to Pluto, called the action sloppy science.

The discovery of Eris, a small planet on the edge of the solar system that’s more than twice the distance from the sun as Pluto, was at first thought to be larger than Pluto.

Its discovery started the drive to redefine a planet and demote Pluto as a planet. Since 2010, it has been found to be the same size or smaller than Pluto.

The IAU needs to correct this mistake and restore Pluto to full planet status.

Van K. Golay, Fort Lauderdale

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The readers’ forum

‘First 48’ exploits victims of crime

Thank you for your recent coverage of the city of Miami Police Chief Manuel Orosa’s decision not to renew a contract with the reality show The First 48. For years the show’s film crew has roamed the streets of Miami’s urban communities searching for victims of homicide to feature on their show. 1369259411
Spiritual or religious?

Martin Slater’s May 17 letter, Changing beliefs, responding to Myriam Marquez’s May 12 column makes the common mistake of equating religion and spirituality. While religions encourage the development of our spiritual sense, religious dogmas are unnecessary to cultivate one’s own sense of spirituality. Many nonreligious individuals are highly spiritual, keenly in tune with their inner-self and the concept of a creative universal force. 1369259411
DCF is disgraceful

Re the May 21 article DCF deemed boy safe before he was left in vehicle: It’s unbelievable that the Department of Children & Families would do absolutely nothing about a woman who reportedly was drunk and driving, hitting walls and passing out while her young son was in the car untethered. 1369259411

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