Anti Gravity: Additions and Corrections; October 2005; Scientific American Magazine; by Steve Mirsky; 1 Page(s)

In news from the far reaches of the solar system, also known as California, astronomers at Caltech are pushing for a distant body to be recognized as the 10th planet orbiting the sun. The object, currently known by the catchy handle 2003UB313, is more than twice as far away as Pluto. Whether Pluto should even be considered a planet has been the subject of recent debate. According to Martin Amis in his 1995 novel The Information: "One must never mock the afflicted, of course, but Pluto really is an awful little piece of s**t."

Plutotudes aside, if 2003UB313 does pass planetary muster, it'll need a new name. Pluto's moon is dubbed Charon, for the ferryman who brings newcomers across the River Styx to the underworld, run by Pluto. The next-best name for a companion for Pluto is thus Goofy. Which would set the stage for NASA's first official Goofy mission.