Alberto Ceja

P: 3

August 8, 2018

Pluto is a planet?

According to the official definition of planet says Pluto is not a planet. The authors of

“Opinion: Yes, Pluto is a planet” main purpose is to persuade why the definition is flawed. The

definition of planet has different meanings which why many people consider Pluto is not a

planet. International Astronomical Union (IAU) defined planet by if an orbiting world has

“cleared its zone,” or thrown its weight around enough to eject all other nearby objects is a

planet. The authors persuade the readers why the definition is flawed by using logos as a

rhetorical appeal.

The authors prove that the IAU definition of a planet is wrong by saying they ignored the

exoplanet revolution. Exoplanets are planets abounded beyond our solar system orbiting every

star. The definition of IAU cuts the physical properties of a potential planet. The authors say this

means, “Earth was not a planet for its 500 million years of history, because it orbited among a

swarm of debris until that time” according to IAU definition. The authors provides facts to argue

the IAU definition of planet is flawed this is an example of logos. Another point they make is,

“…they (IAU) amended their convoluted definition with the vindictive and linguistically

paradoxical statement that “a dwarf planet is not a planet.” Which means that Pluto was

“demoted” by the new definition.

The authors use logos as a rhetorical appeal to persuade people that the IAU definition is

flawed. They believe Pluto is a planet according to facts they gathered. Astronomers ignore the

IAU definition when they talk about discoveries of planets orbiting other stars. The authors state

eventually IAU will reconsider its definition but for now people will keep referring to round to

the planets being discovered around other stars as planets.