How about PLUTO loosing its status as an planet? How do we justifi this?

Answer 1

I am very much against this silly decision by IAU. Fools! Help sign the petition at http://pleasesavepluto.org/ to oppose this decision and make a difference.

Answer 2

It have been known for decades that at some point Plutos position of a planet would be in Jeopardy. It was going to happen when another Pluto size object was found in the Kuiper belt. Pluto is a Trans-Neptunian object (TNO) in the Kupier Belt. For years astronomers have known this, it has just kept planethood because no others were known. Yet we all knew that it was just a matter of time. So Pluto is has it has been known by professional and amateur astronomers for years a TNO.

Pluto is different then other planets in quite a few ways. First Pluto is on in inclination to the planetary plane. That is high compared to the “real” planets. The other 8 planets lie on roughly a plane as you compare their orbits around the sun. Pluto is inclined on this plane by about 15 degrees. Pluto also have a very eccentric orbit, it is such an ellipse that it is closer to the sun for a short period of it orbit (this is many years) then Neptune it this is the reason why it’s a “trans-Neptunian “ object and not just a Kuiper belt object. Also Pluto is very small, when compared to all other planets then Mercury. Had Pluto been found to be a planet on size alone the argument might have been made that our own moon “Luna” is also a planet as the moon orbit’s the sun and not the earth, we only put a small scallop in it’s orbit so that at some points it’s closer the to the sun then the Earth and at other points it farther. Because of Plutos Size, orbit outside the planetary plane, and eccentric orbit Pluto has always been an “odd ball” planet. If Pluto had been found to be a planet along with all the other several hundred predicted objects yet to be found similar to Pluto, we would probably have to make a sub group of planets that describe the first 8 as they do have additional charticersiats that make the similar, that other Kuiper belt and Trans-Neptunian objects don’t have.

I have always thought the professional astronomers who wanted Pluto and other Trans-Neptunian objects to be classified as plants all had a desire or at least the opportunity to discover a new planet. As defined now the chances of a new planets being discovered are very remote

Answer 3

Call it the advancement of telescopes and the discovery of a whole mess of new bodies in the outer Solar System. Just like in 1801 when the first asteroid, Ceres, was discovered, they called it a planet until they found more asteroids and took the planet status away from Ceres. We're on that same path now. Science moves forward and Pluto is now the leader of a new classification of "smaller worlds" (dwarf) in our new "outer asteroid belt" (Kuiper). As time goes by, we'll find hundreds of little worlds out there, but Pluto will be #1. Not bad.

Answer 4

well plutos orbit shows it was once a moon possibly, and that it sorbit is changing becuase of it nearby neighbors, definition of a moon (no matter how big it is) is a object in orbit around another solar orbiting object, so untill its exmoon status is prooved or, it enquires a new orbit, its still going to be classed as a psuedo planet by most
so dont fret its still part of the taught solar system, but things chnage and theorys are adjusted, just like the new 10 planets discovery! what will be next,
another thing about pluto is its low mass, and low atmosphere making it hard to class as a planet, more than a moon like asteroid, or large dead comet...

Answer 5

Apparently there is another small planet like thing (they call it UB313) past Pluto and they either had to make it a 10 planet or demote Pluto to non planet. Pluto and UB313 had too much in common for them to say one was one thing and the other was another.

Answer 6

The Plutonians are ralling around the PLANET, and have denounced the Earth's decision. From now on they will be announcing an Embargo, and commencing at Midnight to-night ( Earth Time ) will be rebounding back to earth all episodes of My Favorite Martian .and All of GW Bush's speeches until Earth changes their tiny minds. The Northern Lights to be immediately cancelled ( You didn't even give us credit..fools that you are ) A Pluto and Goofy plague to be immediately dispatched..Earthlings Beware!!!!

Answer 7

I am 56 years old and can't believe that something I have been taught in school is not declared null!! Why not jusdt leave it a planet and add the other 2 if that is what they want to do.

Answer 8

life will go on. however, those of us that were taught that pluto was a planet may not be of much help to our children in science class now due to being taught differently about this topic now. our kids will laugh at us for being taught that it was in deed a planet, and how right they are to laugh. i find it amusing myself.

Answer 9

I don't know how. I just saw this on MSNBC tonight, and was like. Goodness! all that we have been taught and believed is gone. Poor Pluto, it was so far away and small that it is looked upon as insignificant. Reminds me of society. :)

Answer 10

The astronomers, who are SCIENTISTS who devote their whole life to the study of such things, they are real expert, very well educated, have decided that Pluto is just too weird and too small to be in the PLANET category. They know, they decide, this is their speciality.
This is THEIR decision, and their RIGHT to decide such things.