Why Pluto’s Moons Turned William Shatner Into a Sad Volcano

Nearly two years ago, I called William Shatner and wrecked his day. At least, one can surmise as much based on how the actor responded to the news that his favored name for one of Pluto’s two new moons hadn’t been selected:

“What? That’s impossible! I’m going to lead a revolt,” Shatner told me.

It was mid-2013, and I’d just revealed that “Vulcan” — Shatner’s proposal — had been rejected by the International Astronomical Union. He was not expecting that.

“Pluto is so big and cold that it deserved to have a hot little rock running around it, named Vulcan — for fire,” he said, once he’d absorbed the decision.

Then he went on: “I’m spraying disappointment the way a

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