2006-07-22 19:33:01 · 24 answers · asked by kingofnarniaforever 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
astronomers are trying to define what a planet is, but it isn't easy. many astronomers 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, including pluto, quaoar, sedna, 2003 EL61, and 2003 UB313 (the official name of xena). this is also called the kuiper belt, and pluto was the first kuiper belt object discovered, but 2003 UB313 is about five percent bigger than pluto.
read this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kuiper_belt
i personally favor this reclassification. pluto does not fit the pattern of the larger bodies in the solar system. it does not have the physical or orbital characteristics that they have.
2006-07-23 07:35:31 · answer #1 · answered by warm soapy water 5 · 7⤊ 0⤋
Yes, it is. Pluto have been with us through this recent years, and it clearly with us and was orbiting the sun along the planets as well. However, Pluto is so small as the planet's moon, and there is no other other planet x except they discover the milky way of our universe and pluto is the last planet they can find.
2006-07-23 23:12:05 · answer #2 · answered by Eve W 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As some of the other people have said, it depends on your definition of "planet", but in the end, a bunch of people called the International Astronomical Union get to decide these things and they are holding firm at the moment saying Pluto is still a planet, despite the controversy.
2006-07-23 03:53:58 · answer #3 · answered by dave_eee 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Lots of astronomers are asking the same question. Pluto has striking similarities to a recently discovered planet-sized Kuiper object called UB313 (I think they just recently gave it a better name, but I'm not sure). Anyhow, if Pluto is a planet, why not this other object?
2006-07-23 02:39:46 · answer #4 · answered by The Man In The Box 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Pluto is a planet. It's very small planet in the universe.
2006-07-23 02:37:20 · answer #5 · answered by Amanda P 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
At this point in time, the answer is merely a matter of opinion, even among astronomers. They still haven't decided upon a universal definition that satisfies all scientists.
Creating a firm definition of exactly what defines a planet is a very difficult problem. It's not as simple a task as one might think at first.
2006-07-23 03:21:56 · answer #6 · answered by Jay T 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It depends on what a planet is defined as. If we choose to define the Kuiper Belt objects as planets, then yes it is a planet, and we will have many more planets discovered in coming years. If Kuiper Belt objects are not considered planets, then it's just a Kuiper Belt object. (I don't like the term planetoid being used for them, as the term kuiper would be far more fitting.)
2006-07-23 03:04:59 · answer #7 · answered by Keiron 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
From what I understand, scientists now think it is like a big chunk of ice asteroid, not a planet.
2006-07-23 03:06:50 · answer #8 · answered by Crushgal 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
pluto is a planet!
2006-07-23 03:19:15 · answer #9 · answered by chhavi_sikri 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
off course its a planet but some scientists think that before it was a natural satellite of Uranus which somehow gained its own free orbit around the sun.
2006-07-23 04:11:51 · answer #10 · answered by Aditi 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋