The Mysteries of Pluto
An Alternative Approach to the Solar System's Most Unique World
by
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Like Mars, Pluto is the red planet. Like Venus, Pluto's rotation may be retrograde. Pluto is more tilted on its axis than Uranus, and like Neptunes moon Triton may have Nitrogen geysers. Pluto is the only body in the solar system other than Earth whose moon is a sizable fraction of its own size, but even beyond this studies show that complex hydrocarbons may exist on Pluto's surface, that it may possess significant tidal heating from Charon, and that it may even have a significant sub surface ocean, thus possessing the three key ingredients necessary for life!
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About the Book
To many, Pluto is the most mysterious world in the solar system, and the only major body we have yet to explore. Yet, what we already know about Pluto is really suprising. Pluto is shaping up as one of nature's most unique creations, a planet (yes thats right planet!) that seems to be composed of the most unique features of each and every other planet in our solar system. Despite the intriguing nature of Pluto's physical attributes however, Pluto's uniqueness points the way to three critical questions about ourselves, and our place in the solar system. The three questions we attempt to answer in The Mysteries of Pluto are, is Pluto a planet, is life possible on Pluto, and what does Pluto tell us about the formation of our solar system and the life in it. The answers are sometimes a bit unconventional, and perhaps even a little bit shocking!
About the Author
The author was one of the respondents to the recent petition to the I.A.U. to redefine or rescind the recent change in the definition of planethood, and for the reinstatement of Pluto as a planet as a result. Chapter one of the book was essentially that response.