Book Post 2

Professor Brown is more than an astronomer. As his book, How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming progresses, we learn that perhaps astronomy isn’t the only thing that draws people to Mr. Brown. His dedication to astronomy is contagious, but I just think people love a relentless and optimistic personality. Professor Brown expresses his passions and internal conflicts during the search for a new planet. He explains his search in the context of his life, giving us a greater understanding of his personality and motivations.

Diane, his new fiancé, is a major topic of this section. But meeting her was, “only the second best thing to happen to [Professor Brown] that week” (Brown 54), only overshadowed by Object X (Quaoar). He recalls the first time they met. The first time he explained to her the intricacies of astronomy, as if he could speak of nothing else. He details their travels: Hawaii, Mexico. And his proposal.

In this section we are also introduced to Chad, the graduate student from Hawaii. Chad embodies a youthful and more focused version of Professor Brown. When Chad arrives in Pasadena, we are reminded of the inexperienced new associate professor who was so eager to make his mark on the field of astronomy from chapter one.

How many of us were aware that there are so many new objects being discovered regularly in our own solar system? Growing up I was taught a fixed solar system. I never new that at the same time as I was growing up, new discoveries were being made. I think it is fascinating that we are living during a period in time in which there is still so much that we don’t know. I can imagine people 500 years from now (hopefully) looking back at our limited grasp of the solar system similarly to how we currently view Europe up until the 1490’s.

Throughout the book I read of Professor Brown's commitment to the proper method of recording findings. His commitment to detail and respect for the scientic method provide evidence that he is first a scientist and astronomer first before a public figure. By reading this book I was able to recognize his ability to take a subject as complex as the Kuipler belt and simplify his phrasing so someone with little understanding of astronomy was able to understand. We are given some insights into the business of astronomy, and the importance of protecting information in order to receive credibility. I can identify that Professor Brown becomes more and more experienced with the proper time and manner to announce findings to the scientific community. 

So how did Professor Brown kill Pluto. It began with his discovery of Eris, which we believe is similar in size to that of Pluto. Professor Brown's discovery made people question call into question the size of pluto, which people then realized wasnt as concrete as they has previously believed. After a vote at the International Astronomical Union, Professor Brown tells the press "Pluto is dead".