NASA 'looking into' reclassifying Pluto as a planet after 10-year-old's viral letter
NASA responds to 10-year-old girl's letter about Pluto
NASA is "looking into" reclassifying Pluto as a planet, after a 10-year-old girl’s letter about the former planet went viral. LiveNOW’s Andy Mac spoke about the letter and NASA’s response with Mike and 10-year-old Kaela.
Artemis II’s mission to the moon has sparked a renewed interest in space, inspiring young minds to think outside the Earth’s atmosphere.
Among those space-enthusiasts is 10-year-old Kaela, whose passion for Pluto, the former planet, has caught the attention of NASA.
‘Please make Pluto a planet again’
What they’re saying: It all started when Mike Boylan, who runs the popular Mike’s Weather Page on social media, shared a photo of Kaela’s letter to NASA.
"Please make Pluto a planet again," Kaela wrote. "I really want it to be a planet again."
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The backstory: Pluto was the ninth planet in our solar system until 2006, when the International Astronomical Union downgraded Pluto to a "dwarf planet" because it only met two of the three criteria that define a full-sized planet.
Mike Boylan with 10-year-old Kaela
Kaela offered three convincing reasons for making the change:
- "It is part of our solar system and used to be a planet."
- "It is a dwarf planet and deserves to be an actual planet."
- "It might make a lot of people happy."
"It might not be your choice but if it is please please please make it a planet," she continued. "It would make me very very very happy. If you can’t make it an actual planet please consider it a planet."
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Kaela then spouted off a few fun facts about Pluto to show NASA she knows what she’s talking about.
"Thank you NASA Bye!" she concluded.
In an interview with LiveNow from FOX, Kaela said she got the idea after watching a video at a planetarium.
"This made me really want it to be a planet," she said.
Kaela's letter to NASA (Mike's Weather Page/X)
NASA responds
The other side:
Kaela’s letter was so compelling, it got the attention of NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman.
"Kaela, we are looking into this," Isaacman responded on X.
What's next:
Kaela said if Pluto ever does become a planet again, she knows how the world should celebrate – with free ice cream for all.
The Source: This report includes comments from a LiveNow from FOX interview with 10-year-old Kaela, comments from NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman and the Library of Congress.