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Astronomical split

A DARK corner of Feedback’s soul is, we confess, almost looking forward to a breakaway International Astronomical Union (Pluto-Xenaist) faction seeking to reverse the recent planetary demotions. One astronomer, for example, writes (on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issues): “Poor Pluto. One must truly sympathise. After all, it is at least an order of magnitude greater in mass than its new-found terminology-companion, Ceres…” He proposes therefore that the ex-planet of the God of the Underworld deserves a category of its own: giant dwarf planet. Or, anticipating reactions from people of different stature who do not embrace and reclaim the label…