The IAU decides to re-define planet, and Pluto gets the boot.
I learned the planets in first grade, faithfully memorizing them in order of distance from the Sun. So that’s like thirty-five years ago. I’m too old to un-learn Pluto.
I mean, I understand that the actual science is more important than the romantic or nostalgic aspects. The IAU is the controlling legal authority here in these matters.
But still, Pluto’ll always be my Pluto.
I know how you feel. It’s a bit jarring when the powers that be tell us, “Oh, by the way, that thing you’ve always taken for granted? Well, it never existed, or never was what we led you to believe.”
I still haven’t gotten over the fact that the scientists took the brontosaurus away…