Via my brother Greg:
48th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first
session, 2007
INTRODUCED BY
Joni Marie Gutierrez
A JOINT MEMORIAL
DECLARING PLUTO A PLANET AND DECLARING MARCH 13, 2007,
"PLUTO PLANET DAY" AT THE LEGISLATURE.
WHEREAS, the state of New Mexico is a global center
for astronomy, astrophysics and planetary science; and
WHEREAS, New Mexico is home to world class
astronomical observing facilities, such as the Apache
Point observatory, the very large array, the Magdalena
Ridge observatory and the national solar observatory;
and
WHEREAS, Apache Point observatory, operated by New
Mexico state university, houses the astrophysical
research consortium's three-and-one-half meter
telescope, as well as the unique two-and-one-half
meter diameter Sloan digital sky survey telescope; and
WHEREAS, New Mexico state university has the state's
only independent, doctorate-granting astronomy
department; and
WHEREAS, New Mexico state university and Dona Ana
county were the longtime home of Clyde Tombaugh,
discoverer of Pluto; and
WHEREAS, Pluto has been recognized as a planet for
seventy-five years; and
WHEREAS, Pluto's average orbit is three billion six
hundred ninety-five million nine hundred fifty
thousand miles from the sun, and its diameter is
approximately one thousand four hundred twenty-one
miles; and
WHEREAS, Pluto has three moons known as Charon, Nix
and Hydra; and
WHEREAS, a spacecraft called new horizons was launched
in January 2006 to explore Pluto in the year 2015;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF
THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that, as Pluto passes overhead
through New Mexico's excellent night skies, it be
declared a planet and that March 13, 2007 be declared
"Pluto Planet Day" at the legislature.