During a visit to Booker T. Washington High School in Houston, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee made several scientifically inaccurate statements to students about the moon, suggesting it is a “planet” composed “mostly of gases.” Speaking before a solar eclipse, the Texas Democrat, who has previously chaired the House Science Committee’s space subcommittee, ventured into astronomy with claims that raised eyebrows among the teenage audience.
Jackson Lee, addressing the students gathered on a sports field for the eclipse viewing, discussed the nature of the moon and its composition, erroneously classifying it as a planet and describing it as being predominantly gaseous. This description starkly contrasts with the moon’s actual rocky composition. Additionally, she pondered the feasibility of human habitation on the moon based on its supposed gaseous nature.
Further extending her astronomical commentary, Jackson Lee made claims about the sun and moon’s interaction, suggesting the moon emits its “unique light and energy,” which is a misunderstanding of the moon reflecting sunlight. Her explanation of solar eclipses also contained inaccuracies, describing the event as resulting from the moon being at its closest distance to Earth in 20 years, which would cause complete darkness.
Following the dissemination of her remarks and subsequent online critique, Rep. Jackson Lee responded on X (formerly Twitter), stating that her reference to the moon as a gas-filled planet was a misstatement intended to refer to the sun. She criticized the focus on her error as a diversion by Republicans from more pressing issues such as prenatal care, affordable housing, and student loan debt reduction. Jackson Lee emphasized her primary concern for the educational experience of the children present for the eclipse viewing and her commitment to protecting the rights of women and children over engaging in what she termed “senseless dialogue.”
This is not the first instance of Jackson Lee making public statements that have sparked discussion and controversy. Her career has been punctuated by moments that have drawn attention, not just for her legislative work but also for her comments and interactions that occasionally stray from factual accuracy.