Despite the fact that Pluto is 18,000 times closer to us than Sirius, Pluto appears 1.2 million times fainter than Sirius to an earthly observer. The short national nightmare is coming to an end. The solar system will continue to have nine planets. It will stay as a planet. The designation, new for Pluto, already describes a group of 90 known bodies on the outer fringes of the solar system.
Humans acquire names soon after birth.
Later they get social security numbers. Of course not. Controversy has swirled around the pint-sized planet for various reasons, including its smallness and eccentric orbit. But the possibility of its being demoted touched nerves. Ill. Pluto's discoverer, Clyde Tombaugh, was born near there.