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How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming Hardcover – December 7, 2010

4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 761 ratings

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The solar system most of us grew up with included nine planets, with Mercury closest to the sun and Pluto at the outer edge. Then, in 2005, astronomer Mike Brown made the discovery of a lifetime: a tenth planet, Eris, slightly bigger than Pluto. But instead of its resulting in one more planet being added to our solar system, Brown’s find ignited a firestorm of controversy that riled the usually sedate world of astronomy and launched him into the public eye. The debate culminated in the demotion of Pluto from real planet to the newly coined category of “dwarf” planet. Suddenly Brown was receiving hate mail from schoolchildren and being bombarded by TV reporters—all because of the discovery he had spent years searching for and a lifetime dreaming about.

Filled with both humor and drama,
How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming is Mike Brown’s engaging first-person account of the most tumultuous year in modern astronomy—which he inadvertently caused. As it guides readers through important scientific concepts and inspires us to think more deeply about our place in the cosmos, it is also an entertaining and enlightening personal story: While Brown sought to expand our understanding of the vast nature of space, his own life was changed in the most immediate, human ways by love, birth, and death. A heartfelt and personal perspective on the demotion of everyone’s favorite farflung planet, How I Killed Pluto and Why It Had It Coming is the book for anyone, young or old, who has ever dreamed of exploring the universe—and who among us hasn’t?
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A Letter from Author Mike Brown

My daughter Lilah, now five years old, is mad at me for killing Pluto. When I began a project 13 years ago to chart the slowly-moving objects of the distant outer solar system, my goal was never to pull Pluto off of its cherished planetary pedestal. I wanted to be a planet discoverer, like William Herschel or Clyde Tombaugh before me. I had a strong feeling that somewhere out there something bigger than Pluto was lurking, and I knew that whoever found it would get to claim the mantle as the only living planet discoverer.

I was right. Something bigger than Pluto was out there (or at least something more massive than Pluto; sizes are a little harder to pin down precisely) and one January morning in 2005, my small team of astronomers and I found it. We announced the discovery of the 10th planet to an unsuspecting world late on the afternoon of Lilah’s 22nd day of life. A little after her first birthday, though, the doors to the planetary club were locked and Pluto and my own discovery were kicked out on the curb. The solar system was down to only eight planets.

It was hard not to mourn the loss of my now ex-planet, except for the fact that I had to admit that kicking it out was the most scientifically sensible thing to happen to planetary classification since asteroids were also kicked out almost 200 years ago. The solar system is a beautiful and profound place, and it is made richer with the realization that the eight planets are the foundation throughout which countless smaller bodies continuously swirl.

When Pluto was first demoted, people said to me, “What about the children? How could you do this to them?” But, in fact, children live lives that are always changing. It’s the adults who have had the hardest time reconciling the new understanding of the solar system with what they remember from when they themselves were children. So, it made sense that I used to joke about what would happen the moment when Lilah first learned about the solar system. She would come home, and I would say, “Tell me all about the eight planets,” and when I would try to tell her about the olden times when we used to think there were nine—or even ten!—planets, she would slowly shake her head and exclaim, “Daddy, adults are so stupid.”

But I was wrong.

Lilah knows all about Pluto. She has a stuffed dog, a planet lunch box, a solar system place mat at the dinner table. She feels as warmly towards the ice ball as someone ten times her age, and, like many of those older people, she is mad at the person who killed it. Lilah, though, has a solution. She recently told me, “Daddy, I know that you had to kill Pluto, but will you promise me one thing?”

“Of course,” I said.

“You have to go find another planet, and when you do, you have to name it Pluto for me, OK?”

So my search of the skies continues.

From Bookmarks Magazine

Though several reviewers admitted a grudge against Brown for picking off plucky underdog Pluto, they found his memoir a charming account of a scientist’s life and work. Given Brown’s popularity as an instructor and lecturer at Caltech, it is perhaps unsurprising that his book is accessible and enlightening. Critics were less certain about Brown’s decision to include so much of his personal life in the book. None actually said that Brown’s interludes about becoming a husband and father detracted from his story, but a few asked what they really added. Others, though, felt that this personal perspective perfectly rounded out Brown’s account of how he and his discoveries reshaped the solar system.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Spiegel & Grau; First Edition (December 7, 2010)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0385531087
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0385531085
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12.8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.67 x 0.98 x 8.27 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 761 ratings

About the author

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Mike Brown
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Mike Brown is the Richard and Barbara Rosenberg Professor of Planetary Astronomy at the California Institute of Technology and has been on the faculty there since 1996. He specializes in the discovery and study of bodies at the edge of the solar system. Among his numerous scientific accomplishments, he is best known for his discovery of Eris, the largest object found in the solar system in 150 years, and the object which led to the debate and eventual demotion of Pluto from a real planet to a dwarf planet. Feature articles about Brown and his work have appeared in the New Yorker, the New York Times, and Discover, and his discoveries have been covered on front pages of countless newspapers worldwide. In 2006 he was named one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People as well as one of Los Angeles magazine's Most Powerful Angelinos. He has authored over 100 scientific paper. He is a frequent invited lecturer at astronomical meetings as well as at science museums, planetariums, and college campuses. At Caltech he teaches undergraduate and graduate students, in classes ranging from introductory geology to the formation and evolution of the solar system. He was especially pleased by his most recent honor, the Richard P. Feynman Award for Outstanding Teaching at Caltech.

Brown received his AB from Princeton in 1987, and then his MA and PhD from University of California, Berkeley, in 1990 and 1994, respectively. He has won several awards and honors for his scholarship, including the Urey Prize for best young planetary scientist from the American Astronomical Society's Division of Planetary Sciences; a Presidential Early Career Award; a Sloan Fellowship; and, of course, the one that started his career, an honorable mention in his fifth-grade science fair. He was also named one of Wired Online's Top Ten Sexiest Geeks in 2006, the mention of which never ceases to make his wife laugh.

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Customers find the book easy to read and enjoyable. They describe it as well-written and engaging, especially for those interested in astronomy. Readers appreciate the author's explanations of the science and history of the solar system. The book is described as informative and entertaining, with exciting stories and moments.

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76 customers mention "Readability"76 positive0 negative

Customers find the book easy to read and enjoyable. They say it's well-written and humorous, making it a must-read for anyone interested in astronomy or astrophysics. The book is also described as a primer on astrophysics, written for non-astronomers in layman's terms.

"...Brown talk about his experiences, and came to this book expecting a good read. He delivered...." Read more

"...book is a rather informative primer on astrophysics, putting everything in layman's terms so that anyone can follow along...." Read more

"...this book is not only good at explaining these problems but is very readable and even well-rounded -- we hear a lot about his young daughter who was..." Read more

"...Plus, this perfectly shows the person side of scientists. How they (actually "we") are no different from any other human being...." Read more

75 customers mention "Entertainment value"75 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's entertaining story and well-written explanations. They find it an interesting read that weaves three separate true tales together in a magical way. The author's personal exploration and falling in love stories are also included, making the book worth reading.

"...is a compelling book that captures the story of discovery and two controversies, as well as the reality--sometimes mundane, sometimes not--of how..." Read more

"...I happened upon this book and finally decided it would be worthwhile to get the full story...." Read more

"...All the rest is good about this book. It chronicled in detail the few years surrounding the discoveries of new planet sized objects that eventually..." Read more

"...Upon reading Dr. Brown's smart, funny and personal memoir, I still hold Pluto in high regard, (especially after seeing it courtesy of New Horizons)..." Read more

56 customers mention "Astronomy"56 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and informative about astronomy. They appreciate the author's explanations of the solar system and history. The book introduces complex ideas and engages readers in thought-provoking discussions. It includes an excellent discussion on how scientists choose categories for objects.

"...The book includes an excellent discussion on how scientists choose categories for objects, and why definitions matter...." Read more

"...; the brief history of planetary discoveries; an overview of astronomical telescope operations (who knew the waiting lists for use were so long?)..." Read more

"...But I'm happy to report that this book is not only good at explaining these problems but is very readable and even well-rounded -- we hear a lot..." Read more

"...Upon reading Dr. Brown's smart, funny and personal memoir, I still hold Pluto in high regard, (especially after seeing it courtesy of New Horizons)..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on December 12, 2010
    The bit about killing Pluto is a joke, of course. Pluto is still out there, just as oblivious of what people call it as ever. But it was Mike Brown whose discoveries forced the astronomy community to address the anomaly of Pluto being classified as a planet. And he, despite his years-long quest to discover a tenth planet, despite the glory associated with being the only living discoverer of a planet, was true to his scientific convictions, and argued against his discovery, and therefore against Pluto, being considered a planet.

    I will admit that I came into the Pluto controversy with a strong view of my own. I am one of those people who concluded many years ago, long before I ever heard of Mike Brown, that Pluto was not a planet. When it was discovered Pluto was thought to be quite a large object, and its designation as a planet made sense. But additional measurements showed it to be much smaller than originally thought,* smaller, in fact, than Neptune's moon Triton, itself believed to be a captured Kuiper Belt object. Further, it is locked in a orbital resonance with Neptune, where Pluto makes three orbits of the sun in the time Neptune makes two. So Pluto doesn't even orbit freely around the sun.**

    I've heard Mike Brown talk about his experiences, and came to this book expecting a good read. He delivered. The astronomy is interwoven with Brown's life during the period of discovery. Some may object to this, but scientific discoveries are made by people who are concurrently living their lives. Too often what we hear about are the odd ducks who live only for their science. But most scientists aren't like that; most have lives beyond science, and their work is intertwined with their broader existence.

    In this book we follow Brown from his early years in astronomy to his decision to look for another planet beyond Pluto. During his early, less than successful, attempts he meets, as a result of his work, the woman who will become his wife. We follow his courtship, marriage, and honeymoon as the search continues. The fruition of his search, the discovery of several large Kuiper Belt objects, overlaps the gestation and birth of his daughter.

    During the time he is completing papers on his discoveries, and awaiting his daughter's birth, controversy erupts. A previously unknown astronomer in Spain appeared to have found one of his discoveries, and beat him to a public announcement. Initially gracious, Brown learns that the Spaniard apparently used the internet to learn where he had pointed a telescope to track the object, and used that knowledge to find the object and claim the discovery. This motivates a discussion of how science works, and the competing pressures to, on the one hand, announce discoveries so as to claim credit and, on the other hand, to get the facts together and write a comprehensive paper that adequately describes the discovery.

    Having weathered that controversy, the Pluto issue explodes. Brown provides a comprehensive discussion of why it doesn't make sense to call Pluto a planet. He writes about the last time astronomers had this problem. (No, Pluto wasn't the first.) When Ceres was discovered between Mars and Jupiter in 1801 it was considered the eighth planet. (Neptune hadn't yet been discovered.) Then more "planets" were discovered between Mars and Jupiter. It was eventually realized that all these bodies couldn't be considered planets, and they ended up all being called asteroids. (The decision of the International Astronomical Union on Pluto made Ceres, like Pluto, a "dwarf planet".)

    Similarly, Brown argues convincingly that Pluto is simply one of the larger bodies in the Kuiper belt. Its interaction with Neptune caused it to be discovered earlier than other large Kuiper Belt objects, but it is otherwise unexceptional. The book includes an excellent discussion on how scientists choose categories for objects, and why definitions matter.

    All in all, this is a compelling book that captures the story of discovery and two controversies, as well as the reality--sometimes mundane, sometimes not--of how scientists actually live and work. And how can you not love a book where the astronomer gets the girl?

    * In 1980 A. J. Dessler and C. T. Russell wrote a humorous one page paper that was published in EOS (vol. 61, no. 44, page 690) titled "From the Ridiculous to the Sublime: The Pending Disappearance of Pluto". In it they pretended to take the historical mass estimates of Pluto as being correct, did a mathematical fit, and predicted that Pluto would disappear in 1984. They then speculated on what would happen after it disappeared. This is available online, just search for it.

    ** I've heard the argument that Neptune could just as well be said to be in an orbital resonance with Pluto. While in a narrow technical sense that is true, saying it makes about as much sense as saying Neptune is in orbit around its moon Triton. Neptune is eight thousand times more massive than Pluto, and "captured" Pluto while itself remaining in a nearly circular orbit. Further, there are other Kuiper Belt objects in orbital resonance with Neptune, Pluto is simply the largest. When it comes to gravity size--or at least mass--matters.
    8 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on May 30, 2011
    After several years of curiosity regarding the declassification of Pluto as a planet, I happened upon this book and finally decided it would be worthwhile to get the full story. The book is a rather informative primer on astrophysics, putting everything in layman's terms so that anyone can follow along.

    The book follows Mike Brown from his early days in astrophysical studies to his post-Pluto-killing days. At the beginning, he indicates that his main goal as a young scientist is to discover another planet in the solar system and establishes that whatever he finds should be bigger than Pluto so that his discovery is a planetary shoe-in. What ensues, however, are years of searching--through astronomical telescopes, physical photo files and digital photo archives--along with a host of roadblocks and failures. Brown makes it abundantly clear that searching the space around us is no small task.

    What really helps this book is Brown's sense of humor, which helps to speed along the narrative. Other aspects going for it are: the clear explanations of astronomy; the brief history of planetary discoveries; an overview of astronomical telescope operations (who knew the waiting lists for use were so long?) and technology; the shady dealings of an Iberian research group.

    Note that, because the timeline of the book is many years, part of the story necessarily covers how he met his wife along with the birth and raising of his daughter. Just when you think Brown's about to talk about his wife or daughter too much and risk losing his reader, he switches gears and gets back into the serious meat of his story. He's always on topic.

    I definitely came away learning quite a bit from this book and had a good time in the process.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on July 24, 2015
    Mike Brown is a planetary scientist who, along with others, has discovered several dwarf planets, which, it turns out, are not planets at all -- they're something lesser and not necessarily only lesser in size.

    What is a planet, anyway? That's a tough question, one that's boggled great minds and those of us who are simply curious about planets in general. The latest controversy (and, no, it's not the only one in history) came about not so very long ago when the experts began to wonder if Pluto really was a planet. The world certainly knew it as one but it had fallen on hard times when it was discovered over a number of years that it's just not very big. In fact, it's smaller than our own moon. In fact there are a number of moons that are larger than our own moon and yet no one calls them a planet. Well, that's simple: they're orbiting planets so they've got to be moons, right?

    Maybe, kinda, well, hmmmm. The problem here is how to classify planets or moons for that matter. All of the planets are different. There are different kinds of planets -- terrestrial planets are named after Earth (terra) and include Mercury, Venus, Earth & Mars; then there are the Jovian ones, named after Jupiter (Jove). Terrestrial planets are rocky ones, Jovians are the gasbags -- Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune -- and yet all of them are very different. Earth has oceans, the other terrestrials don't. Jupiter is bigger than all the other planets combined.

    And now we have Dwarf Planets, but they decided that they are NOT really planets, though the word is included.

    Very puzzling indeed. Real planets, like the original 8 (NOT Pluto, not anymore!) are the ones that have a "dominant effect" on the solar system. I would never argue that Jupiter is anything but a major player around here what with its powerful gravitational field and all. But Mercury? It's small, hard to see oftentimes, and poses very little threat. The lesser stuff, those non-planets like asteroids and such that may get hurled in our direction to cause mass destruction (if and when they hit us) or joy (like when they run into Jupiter) seem a much more dominant effect to me.

    I could go on and on and on but I wouldn't help you understand. But I'm happy to report that this book is not only good at explaining these problems but is very readable and even well-rounded -- we hear a lot about his young daughter who was a newborn baby when he got involved with the Pluto controversy and who actually communicated through sign language before she could speak. And she likes planets. Now THAT's a good kid! And you'll also learn about just how hard it is to find out about those faraway bodies that Dr. Brown and his colleagues are discovering -- we still really don't know how big Pluto truly is (though we'll get a better handle on it New Horizons spacecraft has just reached it).

    A very good book, indeed! Another related one is "The Pluto Files" by Neil deGrasse Tyson.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • CK
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great
    Reviewed in Canada on January 1, 2020
    Excellent book
  • Konrad Probsthain
    5.0 out of 5 stars Anrührende Liebesgeschichte eines Entdeckers
    Reviewed in Germany on June 1, 2018
    Mike fahndet mit bewundernswerter Ausdauer, ja mit Besessenheit, nach dem zehnten Planeten, entdeckt ihn schließlich und muss doch helfen, ihn gleich wieder vom Thron zu stoßen. Aber er findet auch seine große Liebe. So schön kann Forschung sein.
  • Renato Langersek
    5.0 out of 5 stars Essential reading for any Astronomy buff.
    Reviewed in Australia on July 31, 2021
    An excellent book about the discovery of several objects in our Solar System that rival Pluto in size. Well written and exciting to read. Essential reading for any Astronomy buff.
  • alapper
    5.0 out of 5 stars The most interesting book I have read in recent years - with a terrible title
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 3, 2014
    This really is a good book - please do not be put off by the terrible, rather immature title as I nearly was. If you are at all interested in the life of experimental science of astronomy today then this is very much the book for you. It rather brings up to date the account given in the first chapters of Fred Hoyle's 'the black cloud' - only this time it's real life not fiction. This account centres on the discovery in recent years by Mike Brown and his team of the large Kuiper Belt objects - in particular Eris, which is slightly larger than Pluto and in a previous era would undoubtedly been hailed as the fabled tenth planet. It details the tremendous amount of hard work involved and alongside this, Mike's love life, his marriage and birth of his daughter. An intriguing account is given of an attempt (by a very cunning subterfuge) of a foreign astronomer to steal and claim for himself one of Mike's discoveries. This well illustrates the perennial problem in science of getting results published without them being stolen by someone else - which must nearly always involve a certain amount of initial secrecy. In respect of this he also mentions the case of Bell-Burnett who is often regarded as having her contribution to the discovery of Pulsars rather underplayed by her supervisor. The last chapter is a account of the demotion of Pluto (and hence Eris) to the status of dwarf planets by the IAU - a move strongly supported (with very full and drawn out reasons) by the author despite the fact that the decision is not to his advantage.
    Overall this really is very interestingly written with the personal nicely intermingled with the practical and the description of astronomical practices at just the right level for a layman to the subject. I wish there had been more of it. Good luck in the future Mike!
  • Rosie Wallace
    5.0 out of 5 stars Best book I've read in a long time.
    Reviewed in Australia on May 11, 2021
    The book makes losing Pluto as a planet a little less painful