Planet Plates

This complete set of melamine dinnerware features eight 10" original watercolor portraits of our solar system. Planet Plates are dishwasher-safe and light enough to pack for a picnic - yet sturdy enough to orbit the rowdiest potluck supper. 

Set includes: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. 

Details

Planet Plates are a beautiful vision of our solar system in a set of eight lightweight and versatile melamine plates!

The vivid watercolor portraits and beautiful design of Planet Plates bring an inspiration to your entertaining. Perfectly sized for dessert and snacks - or appetizers and pass around plates at your next cocktail party.

8” / 20 cm diameter

100% melamine

Dishwasher safe

Do not microwave

Why is Pluto not included?
In short, because Pluto is no longer a planet.
Pluto was discovered in 1930 by Clyde Tombaugh at Lowell Observatory, and shortly afterwards became the much loved 9th planet. However, as we began to learn more about our solar system, the more some scientists began to question Pluto's planet designation. In 2006, the great planet debate came to a head and Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet by the International Astronomical Union (IAU). There are currently 5 recognized dwarf planets: Ceres, Pluto, Haumea, Makemake, and Eris. Scientists believe there may be over 100 waiting to be discovered.

So what is a planet then?
According to the IAU, planets are defined by three features:
1. The object must be in orbit around the Sun.
2. The object must be massive enough to be rounded by its own gravity. More specifically, its own gravity should pull it into a shape defined by hydrostatic equilibrium.
3. It must have cleared the neighborhood around its orbit.
Pluto fails to do the third, as it's mass is not great enough. However, what classifies objects like Pluto has been a long standing debate, and like all things, science changes as we learn more.

Are we sad about what happened to Pluto?
Some of us.

Sources:
NASA - https://www.nasa.gov/
IAU - https://www.iau.org/
Lowell Observatory - https://lowell.edu/

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