All the Small Things

"NASA spacecraft get a closer look at dwarf planets
Pluto and Ceres"
By: Kenneth Chang
Source: NY Times
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/01/20/science/nasa-spacecraft-get-a-closer-look-at-pluto-and-ceres-whatever-they-may-be.html

Ceres from 238,000 miles away


           Shakespeare once wrote, "And though she be but little, she is fierce". If feminine pronouns were to be assigned to dwarf planets, then this line would
hold true for Pluto and Ceres. The latter is located between Mars and Jupiter and is mainly composed of fire and ice. Recently, an observatory sighted water
vapor arising from its surface. This suggests that there may be bodies of water on the celestial body. In addition, "It's actually the largest body
between the sun and Pluto that a spacecraft has not yet visited," (Chang,1). It was actually discovered and deemed a planet in 1801, but its title was
revoked a few years later following the discovery of similar bodies of “fire and ice” such as Pallas, Juno, and Vesta. These were later labeled “asteroids”.
In March the Dawn spacecraft launched by NASA will finally give the world a close-up view of Ceres. There is another mission that is of particular interest
to astronomers: The New Horizons mission. It began in 2006 to travel a three-billion-mile trip to Pluto, and it will finally take photos of the “planet” on Sunday.  

        Astronomers and normal people alike are part of a long-standing debate on whether or not Pluto or other “dwarf planets” should be considered planets. 

The term “planet”is also not concrete. However, it is not of immense importance what labels are assigned to these celestial wonders; it is far more important what

 they contain and how they contribute to our knowledge and awe of the universe.