NASA to Hold Media Call on Latest Images of Pluto from New Horizons Spacecraft

NASA to Hold Media Call on Latest Images of Pluto from New Horizons Spacecraft

This teleconference on the latest New Horizons Pluto images will be streamed live tomorrow, Wednesday, April 29 at 3:30 PM EDT at http://www.nasa.gov/newsaudio . Please adjust for your time zone.

Nine Reasons Why Pluto Is a Planet - Philip Metzger

Planetary scientist Phil Metzger has written a very comprehensive, logical article titled"Nine Reasons Why Pluto Is A Planet," and his is one of the best-written articles I have read on this subject in nearly a decade. It successfully rebuts many arguments used by supporters of the IAU definition. I highly recommend all Pluto supporters take the time to read this and learn about why Pluto is not a comet, is not too small to be a planet, and much more.

Nine Reasons Why Pluto Is a Planet - Philip Metzger

New Horizons briefings tomorrow will be broadcast live on NASA TV

In his latest PI Perspective at http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/News-Center/PI-Perspectives.php?page=piPerspective_04_13_2015 , New Horizons Principal Investigator Alan Stern discusses the beginning of the mission's Approach Phase 2, which started on April 5.

Tomorrow, Tuesday, April 14, NASA will conduct two briefings on the New Horizons mission, both of which can be viewed live on NASA TV at http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html . The first will be at 1 PM Eastern Daylight Time (adjust for other time zones) and is titled, "New Horizons Media Briefing: Seeing Pluto as Never Before (all channels)." The second will be at 2:30 Eastern Daylight Time (adjust for other time zones) and is titled, "New Horizons Media Briefing: Getting to Pluto (NTV-3 (Media))."

The briefings will also be broadcast on this site: http://www.parabolicarc.com/2015/04/13/nasa-tv-air-horizons-briefings-tuesday/

Recordings of the both briefings will be available on NASA TV for those whose schedules do not permit them to watch the briefings live.

I also discuss Approach Phase 2 in my latest article for "Spaceflight Insider" at http://www.spaceflightinsider.com/missions/solar-system/new-horizons-begins-approach-phase-2/

Another Poll! Vote Yes, Pluto is a Planet!

http://app.plutosafari.com/poll.html

Results of this poll will be sent to the IAU. Currently, the results are 54 percent for Pluto and 46 percent against.

The site presents arguments for both sides of this debate. Interestingly, it erroneously attributes the discovery of Eris solely to Mike Brown, when the reality is that Eris was discovered by a team of three astronomers, the other two being Chad Trujillo and David Rabinowitz. Significantly, Rabinowitz signed Alan Stern's petition rejecting the IAU planet definition and demotion of Pluto.

Tomorrow--Yuri's Night New Horizons Google+ Hangout

As part of tomorrow's annual commemoration of Yuri's Night, celebrating Yuri Gagarin becoming the first human in space on April 12, 1961, a special New Horizons Google+ Hangout will be held at 2 PM EDT (1 PM Central Time, 12 Noon Mountain Time, 11 AM Pacific Time). All are invited to join at http://yur.is/newhorizons15 or https://plus.google.com/events/cgqpp2ral2b5hh4o2aqsao8meik . Both addresses lead to the Hangout. These events have a section where you can type in questions which the presenters can see and often answer in public. If you miss the Hangout, there will be a video recording of it on Google+ and YouTube.

We the Geeks: Journey to Pluto | The White House

We the Geeks: Journey to Pluto | The White House

Planet Pluto! - Philip Metzger

Planet Pluto! - Philip Metzger

Campaign to name features on Pluto extended to April 24!

NASA has extended the public campaign to name features on Pluto to Friday, April 24. Anyone anywhere in the world can vote once per day at http://www.ourpluto.org/ . You can also submit your own choice of name, along with a comment about that choice, at http://www.ourpluto.org/nominate .

The History and Future of Pluto Studies: New Horizons Google+ Hangout Tomorrow, Friday, April 3

Don't miss the latest New Horizons Google+ Hangout, which will focus on the history and future of Pluto studies. The hangout takes place at 1 PM EDT (adjust appropriately for time zones).

All are welcome to participate. Sign up in advance or at the time of the event here:
https://plus.google.com/u/0/events/clkrqi0mbhltft5ausb00h89bco