why isn't pluto considered a real planet?

Answer 1

astronomers are trying to define the word planet, 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. i have even heard uranus and neptune referred to as ice giants instead of gas giants. there are hundreds of known ice dwarfs. this is also called the kuiper belt. kuiper belt objects include pluto, quaoar, sedna, 2003 EL61, and 2003 UB313 (the official name of xena). 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.

Answer 2

Because Pluto is in the Kuiper belt, an area of the solar system extending from the orbit of Neptune (at 30 AU) to 50 AU from the Sun.

The objects within the Kuiper Belt together with the members of the scattered disk extending beyond, are collectively referred to as trans-Neptunian. And Pluto's orbit lies right in it's path.

The largest recent discovery is 2003 UB313, nicknamed Xena. It has led scientists to question the definition of the term Planet, as it is larger than Pluto and has already been called a tenth planet by some sources.

Not VERY detailed here, it's hard to sum up and explain, but you can read much more about it at the links below.

Answer 3

Pluto is tiny compared to other planets, there are bigger asteroids and satellites than it.
It is also far enough to contemplate its being a planet.
Also, its orbit is unique : it cuts through Neptune's in such a way , that once every 248 years, it becomes the second farthest planet in the Solar System.
Hence, there are theories against its being a planet.

Answer 4

Pluto is still officially considered a planet and it probably
will remain so for the forseeable future...

Answer 5

in my view, confident. i think all gadgets that orbit our sunlight fullyyt and function sufficient mass (gravity) to create a sphere have the dazzling to be planets. coated are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Ceres, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto, Eris, and Quouar. There are nevertheless others interior the asteroid and Kuiper belts. Dwarf Planets would desire to be moons -- gadgets that orbit planets and not fullyyt the sunlight -- and different gadgets that have not got sufficient gravity to be spheres. coated in this record are the Moon, Phobos, Deimos, Io, Europa, Callisto, Ganymede, Titan, Triton, Miranda, Charon, and hundreds of others.

Answer 6

well, it isn't considered as a planet because of it's size and variation. nowadays articles are appearing in the newspapers about what actually is a planet? till today even mercury is not considered as a planet.so the doubt remains.

Answer 7

its so smal (about the size of the moon) and far away that people aren't even 100% sure that it revovless the sun. also, it doesn't have any of the elements that some planets may have like atmosphere, gas,moons,etc
its just a tiny piece of hard ice thats all over space. so, its more like the asteriods and stuff that r in space.
it doesn't receive even 1% of the sun's light.

Answer 8

To now more about this search for what is a planet? Check out this site may be you get some useful information http://science.nasa.gov

Answer 9

Because it's so small. But isn't it still many times the size of the earth, it's just so faar away?

Answer 10

Because he's a Disney cartoon character.