Do we still have a planet Pluto? Have they decided if there is a 10th planet or not in our solar system?
2006-07-02 14:21:32 · 6 answers · asked by rodneycrater 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
No decision as yet. For the record, Pluto is still officially considered a planet by the International Astronomical Union, until such time that someone rules that it isn't. We're waiting for the space probe New Horizons to reach Pluto and pass into the Kuiper Belt to determine just how many planets and planetessimals there are in our solar system, and exactly how we should define a solar system. Xena is the unofficial name of the planet-like object discovered beyond the orbit of Pluto, and several other candidates have popped up in recent years, including (unofficial names) Quaoar, Sedna, Santa, and Easter Bunny (I'm assuming it's got a pair of some sort of funny lobes like ears... and Mickey Mouse is copyrighted), all of which are rocky, icy bodies out in the region beyond Pluto that may or may not qualify as planets... and if they're planets, then Pluto is certainly one as well. Time will tell... eventually.
2006-07-02 14:58:59 · answer #1 · answered by theyuks 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋
astronomers are trying to define the word planet, but it isn't easy. many favor the reclassification of the bodies in the solar system into three groups, the rocky terrestrials, the gas giants, and the ice dwarfs. there are hundreds of known ice dwarfs. this is also called the kuiper belt. the ice dwarfs include pluto, quaoar, sedna, 2003 EL61, and 2003 UB313 (the official name of xena). pluto was the first ice dwarf discovered, but 2003 UB313 is about five percent bigger.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuiper_belt
i personally favor this reclassification.
2006-07-02 22:19:16 · answer #2 · answered by warm soapy water 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i read theres an object slightly bigger than pluto in the solar system, so if pluto is considered a planet then the other object should be as well. i forget its name.
2006-07-02 23:39:02 · answer #3 · answered by winstonsmithratm 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nope, they're still aguing away. I believe that Pluto is just an asteroid and when the space craft arrives there in 2015 we will know for sure.
2006-07-02 21:43:38 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well I don't know, but I wouldn't concider it a planet, but there IS another one, it's like Xina or something.
2006-07-02 21:30:24 · answer #5 · answered by suppy_sup 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no, they're still haggling.
why would it matter tho?
2006-07-02 21:23:39 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋