Episode
The Case of Pluto: Discovery, Demotion, and Redemption
- Published
- Mar 15, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 1588
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- https://rss.com/podcasts/star-trails/2628816
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Summary
In 2006, a group of astronomers gathered in Prague and made a decision that shocked the world: Pluto was no longer a planet. But the story of Pluto is far more complicated—and far more fascinating—than that single vote. In this episode of Star Trails, we reopen the case. From Percival Lowell’s search for the mysterious “Planet X” to Clyde Tombaugh’s painstaking discovery using a blink comparator, we trace the strange history of the ninth planet. We’ll examine the discoveries that led to Pluto’s controversial demotion, meet the astronomers who helped redefine what a planet is, and follow NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft as it revealed Pluto to be a dynamic and surprisingly complex world. Along the way we explore Pluto’s bizarre orbit, its giant moon Charon, its icy surface and hidden mysteries—and the poetic moment when the ashes of its discoverer finally returned to the distant world he found. And later in the show, we step outside for a look at the night sky for the week of March 15–21, including dark skies near the new moon, the arrival of the vernal equinox, brilliant Jupiter in Gemini, and a few deep-sky treasures worth tracking down with your telescope. Connect with us on Bluesky @ startrails.bsky.social or YouTube @TheStarTrailsPodcast . If you’re enjoying the show, consider sharing it with a friend! Want to help? Buy us a coffee ! Also, check out music made for Star Trails on our Bandcamp page! Podcasting is better with RSS.com ! If you’re planning to start your own podcast, use our RSS.com affiliate link for a discount, and to help support Star Trails.