2006-08-24 23:19:25 · 6 answers · asked by Greenfullmoon 2 in Education & Reference ➔ Other - Education
Well I don't buy that it costs too much to update textbooks because demoting Pluto incurred that cost. The list of Dwarf Planets that Pluto is now a part of, changes all the time anyway.
Pluto has been demoted to Dwarf Planet because it didn't clear out its orbit properly. It didn't have enough mass to have the clutter attach to it or be pushed out of the way. It wasn't an issue until a dwarf came along that was bigger than Pluto. As Xena was being considered for planet status, she wasn't getting in and purists said well Pluto is in, so Xena should be in too.
Pluto could have been demoted long ago, but Xena's contentions forced the issue to be handled now.
2006-08-25 09:14:50 · answer #1 · answered by Ken C. 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
yeah, and it feels bad..
there are really no scientific bases that covers the definition of a planet in the first place, this is purely an arbitrary thing decided upon by the iAU
the decision came out of expediency
if they will keep Pluto as a planet in our list, other "celestial bodies" beyond Neptune (larger than Pluto or at least as large) would have to be considered also as a planet.. if they do that then we may have to update our list every so often because, as scientists suspect, there may even be more such finds in the near future
imagine if every year we have to change the official membership of the solar system due to another discovery of trans-Neptunian object larger than Pluto or at least as large
this "impracticality" of CONSTANT updating of the list of the planets of our solar system is what academics are trying to prevent
by once and for all sacrificing Pluto off the list of planets,
at least this would be a one time event
2006-08-24 23:26:42 · answer #2 · answered by diazmelgarejo 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I guess it's considered a "dwarf planet" now, whatever that means. Does it really matter how a few little people "classify" things in our vast universe? It makes absolutely no difference as to what words we ascribe to it. Pluto is Pluto. Your breasts are your boobs, your penis is your weiner. Calling things by different names has never changed anything.
2006-08-24 23:26:32 · answer #3 · answered by DawnDavenport 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Pluto is automatically disqualified because its oblong orbit overlaps with Neptune's.
2006-08-24 23:24:57 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Isnt. Basis: it aint no planet.
2006-08-24 23:23:52 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
it is no longer a planet. it is too small
2006-08-24 23:25:13 · answer #6 · answered by Maria K 2 · 1⤊ 2⤋