Dogged Pursuit of Pluto

Pluto is ready for its close up – but the near encounter during this historic flyby will last less than three minutes. Be ready for the action with our special New Horizons episode!

Hear from researchers who are Pluto rock stars: the astronomer who discovered two of Pluto’s five moons, the planetary scientist who coined the term “dwarf planet,” and the man who claims to have “killed Pluto.”

Find out how the New Horizons spacecraft will dodge rocks and other dangers as it approaches the planet and what we might learn about planet formation once we arrive. And why the battle over Pluto’s nomenclature continues.

Plus, Neil deGrasse Tyson reads his hate mail – from 3rd graders. 

Guests:

•  Neil deGrasse Tyson – Astrophysicist, director of the Hayden Planetarium, New York City

•  Alan Stern – Planetary scientist, Principal Investigator, New Horizons mission

•  Mark Showalter – Senior research scientist, SETI Institute, New Horizons team member

•  Mike Brown – Astronomer, California Institute of Technology

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