U.T. physics professor still see Pluto as planet

The International Astronomical Union says uh, can you downsize that? After 76 years, dinky Pluto is no longer a planet because it doesn't measure up.

"It has to be massive enough as it orbits the sun to clear out all of the massive bodies in it's path," University of Tennessee physics professor Bill Blass says.

That's according to three new rules that define what a planet is. Blass says redefinition is the problem.

"As far as I'm concerned Pluto is still a planet," he says.

Blass says no one really gains anything from renaming Pluto as a dwarf planet, except for the people who make text books.

"Astronomy textbooks cost between $120 and $130," he says.

For the sake of accuracy, Blass is sure there will be new textbook editions since we now have eight planets instead of nine.

Although Pluto has been demoted it's still a member of the solar system. It has two other dwarf buddies, Ceres, a large asteroid and a sphere shaped object, nicknamed Xena. But for some, getting rid of Pluto as a planet is still just plain goofy.