I know I’m not the only one who was bummed when Pluto was demoted to a dwarf planet in 2007. That’s just insulting. Pluto was always there for me. No matter how much I botched the order of those other planets I knew Pluto was 9th.
Pictures taken by the Hubble Space Telescope: Clockwise from the upper left, the "Tadpole" galaxy, the "Cone Nebula," two colliding spiral galaxies dubbed "The Mice," and stellar birth in the Omega Nebula. (Images from NASA)
You know who was happy about Pluto getting the galactic smackdown? Neptune which became the new planetary caboose. Now everyone will remember the swirly blue body named for the Roman god of water and sea. But Neptune comes with controversy all its own, and that brings us to December 28, 1612 and this week’s Wikipedia Wednesday. On that day, Galileo discovered the 8th planet whether he knew it or not. That’s the disputed part.
Fast forward a few centuries to December 30, 1924. That’s when Edwin Hubble announced the existence of other galaxies and forever changed our understanding of the universe. Named in his honor, the Hubble Telescope has been capturing the greatest images in history for the past couple of decades.
Speaking of space traveling objects, Maurice “The Rocket” Richard made history on December 28, 1944 when he became the first player in National Hockey League history to score 8 points in one game. The Montreal Canadian legend was also the first player to score 50 goals in 50 games, unheard of and mostly unreachable unless you’re one of the all-time greats. By the way, Sidney Crosby is flirting with that very milestone right now.
While we’re mentioning athletes, now’s a great time to say happy birthday (tomorrow) to one of my favorite baseball players of forever. Sandy Koufax–greatest left-handed pitcher of all-time–was born with a cannon on his arm in 1935.
Bill Shatner's passionate about Wiki Wednesday
I suppose we could also recognize the birth of Woodrow Wilson, who managed to overcome the name Woodrow to become president of the U.S., in 1856. I’d rather talk about a man who died at this time in 1999. I know very little about Clayton Moore other than the fact that he was The Lone Ranger and I was named after him. Guess mom was a big fan.
Mostly though, today is about frontiers which makes this a great time to mention how Iowa was admitted as the 29th state in 1846. Over time our expanding frontier revealed fruited plains and purple mountain majesty that would galvanize environmentalists into the 20th century. The Endangered Species Act was eventually passed by the U.S. Congress in 1973 under President Nixon. That statute helped out many beautiful creatures and even protected some slithering reptiles. Oh, that reminds me, Saddam Hussein was executed on December 30, 2006.
Part of that fruited plain is in Illinois, a great state to bring us home. I mentioned earlier that others were unhappy with Pluto’s demotion. Some of those folks were from Illinois, birthplace of Clyde Tombaugh, discoverer of Pluto who got robbed. The state government passed a law pooh-poohing the scientific community. New Mexico reps (where Tombaugh lived much of his life) did the same and even declared a Pluto Planet Day once a year! They said Pluto will always be considered a planet when it appears over the New Mexico sky.
Stan Lee w/ Kevin Smith and more
Also coming out of Illinois is Nichelle Nichols, born on December 28 in 1932. She played Uhura in the original Star Trek cast which I know way more about than you would ever believe. Yes, I like the new movie too.
For a brief time after the late 1970s, Marvel Comics held the license for Star Trek. All of you should now that the godfather of Marvel is Mr. Stan Lee who turned 88 yesterday. What a legend. All he did was create (along with Jack Kirby) such characters as Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four, Daredevil (my fave as a kid), the Incredible Hulk, Ironman, and so many others.
Another creation of Stan “The Man” Lee is the Silver Surfer, an intergalactic traveler who certainly breezed past Pluto and Neptune more than once, and whose conceptual journeys wouldn’t have been possible had the infinity of the universe not been discovered by folks like Tombaugh, Hubble, and Galileo.
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On Wikipedia Wednesday I take the Wiki’s word for it about what happened on this date in history (give or take a day) and vamp up the rest to connect the events. It’s okay. I’m a trained historian. You won’t get history like this anywhere else.
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Did you learn somethin’? Connect with me on Twitter @eduClaytion.
Love the Shatner pic (and the allusion to the new movie). I’ll never forget going to see that on opening night in NYC…the place was packed. And you even got an Iron Man reference in there, too! I just watched the 2nd Iron Man last night…there is something so special, so poignant, about a Samuel L. Jackson cameo. Truly touching.
Okay, I admit it, I’m an old school Start Trek guy. As a matter of fact, the first movie I ever remember seeing in the theater was Star Trek III so I have my family to blame. The strange thing is that I’m so unscientific and way more dorky than geeky but I just love the characters. And yes, I saw the new movie twice in the theater. And yes, you rock.
“Hey, Richard, two minutes for lookin’ so good!”
Gotta love the Rocket…
Larry aren’t you quite the Grecian Formula expert!Well played
You had me at “The Rocket” Excellent movie if you haven’t had the chance to watch it. 50 goals in a single season is amazing never mind in 50 games, or 39…Syd can do it. Just a matter of when. It will look great with his collection of great things, gold medal, Stanley cup, Spengler Cup, “C” and just a kid. Our rookie Taylor Hall asked who was his hero growing up, he replied “Sidney Crosby” I am officially old.
I wonder if my love of hockey has something to do with connecting with all of you wonderful folks from north of the border. Sid certainly has a great collection. Hard to believe he’s not even in his prime yet. Taylor Hall is going to be a good one too. Love that line about his hero!
You had me at Pluto. My son told me that Pluto was no longer considered a planet and I was all, “What are you talking about?” And he was all, “It’s true, I learned it in school.” Pluto totally got the shaft.
Have a happy new year, Fryber Clay. It has been a richer year for meeting you.
Pluto did get the shaft and with my immense blogging platform I am jumping in the ring with New Mexico and Illinois to do something about it. Or just make Spiderman references. Happy New Year to you as well my dear Fryber.
My kids studied planets last year in Kindergarten. From them, we learned about dwarf planets (including Sedna (?)). Of course, this unit also was the catalyst for an at-home fist fight between my twins over which planet is the hottest. Happy Intergalactic New Year!
haha, everything’s an adventure in your world. Happy Intergalactic New Year back at ya. Will it be 2011 in Canada tomorrow too?
btw, Mercury is probably the hottest planet by temperature, but as far as looks go everyone knows that Venus is a total babe.
Of course, when we’re talking about planets I always have to fight the childish urge to make a joke about Uranus.
I know. I try to be adult about it but let’s face it. Uranus is just sitting right there asking for it.