Or it is the death of astronomy. At the moment astronomy melds together the study of stars and planets. That made sense when we had only a handful of interesting planets (plus many thousands of supposedly inert rock things). Now we know that asteroids are dynamic interesting objects. Pluto is not an inert ball of ice but an interesting planet as complex as any other. And then we have the steady flow of new exoplanets. Astronomy will soon split into formal astro-nomy, the study of stars, and planet-ology, the study of planets.

Today's astronomers are physicists. The study of stars takes data and theory from the high-minded world of particle physics. Fusion in accelerators on earth is used to study and define fusion that powers stars. Planetology will take data and theory from what Sheldon called "the dirt people". The science of rocks, soil and weather will lead the study of planets. This cultural split will soon divide astronomy. With all the interesting new stuff happening in relation to planets and the inevitable discovery/debate re life on those planets, the old guard of star-studying astronomers will be sidelined.