Leading astronomers expressed concern today that Pluto appears to be "extremely depressed" about the recent controversial decision by the International Astronomical Union to remove its planetary status.

"One of the new criteria for planethood is that a celestial body must clear the neighborhood of smaller objects in its orbit," explained astronomer Steven Haden. "This is a test Pluto failed, but lately, Pluto seems even less interested in keeping its space clean. Not even space dust is getting picked up now."

Fellow astronomer Susan Cooper agreed. "The place looks like a pig-sty. My teenage son's bedroom is neater. Some of us are quite concerned."

Astronomers have also noted that Pluto seems to be hanging around with other less-reputable 'dwarf planets' like Ceres.

"It's obvious Pluto now feels like a second-class citizen of the solar system and is starting to associate with the wrong crowd," says another astronomer who requested anonymity. "But I've always said we shouldn't expect stellar behavior from a planet named after the Greek god of the underworld."

He went on to say, "I was for Pluto remaining a planet. You just don't strip away a planet's planetary status after 70 years and expect it not to be humiliated. I don't know how these other astronomers will be able to sleep at night if Pluto harms itself now."