The demotion of Pluto from planetary status “Pluto was excluded from the island” (Inman). In August 2006, the celestial body was officially renamed a dwarf planet. Media coverage of the Pluto retrograde began in 2006 and has covered a wide variety of topics, including the official Prague decision, the public's reception of the decision, a book written by a scientist claiming full responsibility for the downgrade, and finally the most recent report from NASA. declaration in 2012 regarding the dwarf planet. Media interest in Pluto's demotion increased twice, first in 2006 when Pluto was demoted to dwarf planet status with both supporters and detractors displayed in the media; over the next few years, interest declined significantly until a second peak appeared in 2010, when Mike Brown published his book. In 2010, the media presented to the public was strictly partisan. “Throw away the placemats. Take a magic marker for the classroom blackboards. Take a pair of scissors to the mobile of the solar system… Pluto has obtained its walking papers” (Overbye). Ninth planet Pluto lost its planetary status when it didn't "make the cut" after the International Astronomical Union collaborated in Prague to finalize the definition. of the word planet. The International Astronomical Union has decided that there are eight planetary bodies in Earth's solar system and that Pluto should be classified as a dwarf planet. Online newspaper articles dating from 2006, when the International Astronomical Union met in Prague, and up to 2012 highlight how Pluto's retrograde was presented to the general public. The articles covered during this six-year period emphasize the more scientific aspect of the media's depiction of Pluto's retrograde. This timeline begins with the official retrograde of...... middle of paper ...... several people receive, the article "What is Pluto" focuses on the theory behind the decision and the new categorization of Pluto while other media focus on scientists' opinions on the change as well as how the change will be perceived by the general public. Originally discovered in 1930 by Clyde Tombaugh, Pluto was considered the ninth planet in the solar system, but in 2006 it was demoted to a "dwarf planet." » or plutoid status. Lately, public interest in Pluto's retrograde has declined significantly. Media interest in Pluto retrograde increased with the official Prague decision containing public reception of the decision, and again when a book written by Mike Brown appeared in 2010. Originally , controversy ensued with both positive and negative opinions on the decision, but as time continued, only positive opinion was present in the media.