I mean, they say it's because it doesn't have anything in orbit around it, but what about its moon? Seriously though, it's a sphere and has gravity and a moon orbiting around it. Why isn't it a planet? If anyone can clear that up for me, I would be very happy.
2006-08-24 11:07:32 · 15 answers · asked by Literary Lass 2 in News & Events ➔ Current Events
they cahnged the definition of what what a planet is and Puto just didn't make the cut. Try reading this article
2006-08-24 11:11:38 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
The definition of a planet has to meet these criteria (according to the current view of a planet):
it must be in orbit around the Sun
it must be large enough that it takes on a nearly round shape
it has cleared its orbit of other objects
Pluto was automatically disqualified because its highly elliptical orbit overlaps with that of Neptune.
Pluto is smaller even than some moons in the Solar System.
The researchers said Pluto failed to dominate its orbit around the Sun in the same way as the other planets.
Its orbit around the Sun is also highly tilted compared with the plane of the big planets. It will now join a new category of dwarf planets.
The critical blow for Pluto came with the discovery three years ago of an object currently designated 2003 UB313. After being measured with the Hubble Space Telescope, it was shown to be some 3,000km (1,864 miles) in diameter: it is bigger than Pluto.
2003 UB313 will now join Pluto in the dwarf category, along with Pluto's major moon, Charon, and the biggest asteroid in the Solar System, Ceres.
2006-08-24 18:20:41 · answer #2 · answered by Jaques 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is still a planet. Scientist will be voting to keep it as a planet, or claim that it is not a planet. Apparently, the planet is orbiting with the other planets and very far away, not seen visibly as the other planets. I'm not sure why they are concerned with eliminating Pluto as the planet, maybe because NASA knows they will never spend money to go there!
2006-08-24 18:12:44 · answer #3 · answered by floridagirl2 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's all got to do with size. Pluto is now going to be classified as a dwarf because it's not big enough to be a real planet. I think the reclassification has to do with scientists wanting to introduce 3 new "planets" into our definition of our solar system.
2006-08-24 18:12:06 · answer #4 · answered by tahoe 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because a bunch of scientists got together for several months, smoked a ton of pot, and came up with the definition of the word "planet". Pluto didn't meet that definition so... POOF Not a planet. Oh by the way, did it mention that our tax money funded this nonsense. Who cares?
2006-08-24 18:19:14 · answer #5 · answered by troythom 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well ya see... I had the shields up and we just... we didn't see it! I'm really sorry! I didn't know a planet could be obliterated like that. I mean it was like "bam"... it's gone!
Eh... no big loss right?
2006-08-24 18:10:40 · answer #6 · answered by whateva 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Astronomers redefined the criteria for being called a planet.
See: http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20060824/sc_nm/science_planets_dc_6
2006-08-24 18:15:20 · answer #7 · answered by williegod 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because Pluto is a Disney dog
actually i guess its because its just a chunk of ice
2006-08-24 18:15:33 · answer #8 · answered by nunofyobiznit 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
kickbacks from textbook publishers who will make a fortune selling new textbooks to every school in the world
2006-08-24 18:11:38 · answer #9 · answered by umop_apisdn_420 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because science said there can only be 9. Therefore, blah, blah,
blah.
2006-08-24 18:11:07 · answer #10 · answered by Medicine Eddie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋