Dear Deanna,

If you look at the issue of Pluto being a planet strictly from a scientific point of view, it makes sense to catalogue it as a dwarf planet, because otherwise we'd have to bring into the solar system so many more Kuiper Belt objects that are like Pluto. But I feel that as humans, we have a relationship with our Universe that goes beyond just the facts, and that Pluto has been part of our society for a long time, so that we could just have him stay as a planet, sort of like an "honorary planet." Pluto continues to be a controversial issue, so I am sure it will again be a heated topic of discussion in future International Astronomical Union meetings. What I find amusing is that Pluto does not really care what we say! :)

Isabel Hawkins