Despite an overwhelming voter turnout by “Star Trek” fans to name one of the moons of Pluto after Mr. Spock’s home planet of Vulcan, the International Astronomical Union today announced it would name the two moons Kerberos and Styx. Why ignore the will of the people? It turns out Vulcan was used already, to name a planet once theorized to be in orbit between the sun and Mercury. Voters’ second choice was Cerberus, but that name too had been taken (by an asteroid discovered in 1971), so Kerberos was selected as a substitute.
Who’s running this ship?
So they name a moon Kerebus because there's already a Cerebus asteroid but a mythological planet knocks out Vulcan?
— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) July 2, 2013
Star Trek fans have had it rough. First JJ blows up Vulcan and now SETI finds a loophole to deny it from coming back!
— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) July 2, 2013
Who'd ever thought I'd be betrayed by geeks and nerds? 😉
— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) July 2, 2013
At least Styx fans have reason to celebrate, albeit at Shatner’s expense.
I've returned. Still upset, though
— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) July 2, 2013
Did you hear the consolation? They may name a crater after Kirk. A pockmark on a planetoid is a fitting tribute? (Rolling my eyes)
— William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) July 2, 2013
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