Solar system shrinks as Pluto loses planet status

THE universe just got smaller. Yesterday morning there were nine planets in the solar system — by 2.30pm there were just eight.

After 70 years of heated debate among astronomers, Pluto was booted out of the planet party and downgraded to the ignominious title of “dwarf planet” at a conference of 2,500 astronomers from 75 countries in the Czech capital, Prague.

“My initial reaction is disappointment,” said Astronomy Ireland chairman David Moore. “It’s a crazy system and it’s like the story about a camel being a horse designed by a committee. It’s a fudged solution to the problem.”