Is Pluto a really a Dwarf? What would Grumpy say?
 

Today's the day when Pluto's fate gets decided. Is it a planet? A dwarf planet? Just a hunk of rock? Where does Mickey stand in this debate?

Story here and a ton of other places, too.

It's official. Pluto is indeed a Dwarf.

Will they update Snow White?

I thought he was a dog.

Crap. Now I'm going to have to learn Ceres, Charon, and 2003 UB313. Lame.

Now I'll need a new mnemonic for MVEMJSUN ... any suggestions?

Mousepod's Very Energetic Mind Jets Swiftly Upward Nightly.

Memorizng
Various
Enigmatic
Mnemonics
Justifies
Spouting
Usless
Niceties

Here's the Bad Astronomer's initial reaction. The important thing, I think, is that the whole debate is silly as it is an attempt to create a scientific distinction where none exists.

Another thing I've found interesting is that 90% of the people seem to, upon hearing about this debate, immediately think about having to revise that mnemonic. I never knew there was a mnemonic for it. It's been kind of like learning that everybody but me is in on a secret.

I've always been vaguely aware of the existance of the mnemonic, but I never needed it to remember the planets, so I never learned what it was.