2006-08-25 01:06:01 · 20 answers · asked by dartmouth_01 1 in Education & Reference ➔ Trivia
More or less an arbitrary decision by the International Astronomical Union to help (?) define some of the newest discoveries. Actually, I think it was the fact it must have been too cloudy for them (the astronomers of the IAU) to use their telescopes, and with nothing better to do, they started to have an argument on how big a rock or chunk of ice has to be to be considered a planet....it was either that or it was decided in a bar fight...I do not think those people (the astronomers) get out much.
2006-08-25 01:19:49 · answer #1 · answered by Siouxxi M 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I was confused myself, because some press released last week announced that the IAU had decided that it was a planet.
But now they have decided on a new category, a dwarf planet. Basically Pluto meets two of the three criteria to be a 'classical' planet, but it has not 'cleared the neighbourhood of it's orbit' - ie there are other objects in very close orbit to Pluto.
It is all very problematic, trying to scientifically categorise something which is really a cultural definition, but I think these definitions were needed because there are now so many planet-like objects being discovered beyond the orbit of Neptune. We could have ended up with thousands of planets in the solar system.
2006-08-25 01:13:57 · answer #2 · answered by Avondrow 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Given the discovery of other bodies in sun orbit, some of which are larger than Pluto is now understood to be, the choice was whether to exclude Pluto from full planetary status or to include the other bodies, otherwise the term "planet" would lose any real meaning. In recent years it has come to be appreciated that many other Pluto-sized bodies are likely to be discovered. Astronomers are using the terms "dwarf planet" and "pluton". By all accounts, it was a tough decision, we all grew up with Pluto as one of the nine.
2006-08-25 01:24:58 · answer #3 · answered by Sangmo 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
because it's smaller than the moon.
it has an irregular orbit. it sometimes will orbit at the other planet (such as uranus).
there's also lots of smaller planet between the uranus and pluto. removing of the pluto due to the wanted of exclusive of the smaller planet.
2006-08-25 04:53:23 · answer #4 · answered by Adrienne Golden Apple 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They just want make news,,,,, after 70+ years say discover that Pluto no longer a planet... huh.... now all countries want change then school books..... just wast of money and time.....
2006-08-25 01:18:40 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because it's a cartoon character.... apparently the common market have ruled that Mars is no longer a planet too as it's chocolate. There'll be nothing left soon!
2006-08-25 01:12:16 · answer #6 · answered by Jackie 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I can't explain it. My eight year old daughter was very upset by the whole thing. The whole thing to me seems like a riduculous waste of time and energy. Its been a planet since it was discovered in the 30's, its a planet.
2006-08-25 01:09:23 · answer #7 · answered by ligoneskiing 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
pluto is still classed as a planet
2006-08-25 01:56:31 · answer #8 · answered by macdonald1690 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
didnt know that,well thats realy stupid so well have to learn the planets order again,great,that wont be mentioned in school well take a test it will b the nth planets name and it will be wrong because pluto doesnt count anymore...great
or we will be told it and then either well forget or the test wont rememeber :p
2006-08-25 01:13:23 · answer #9 · answered by kez_124 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Didn't meet the new standards of planethood. Didn't have the right "body-type," you might say. It was too small. Also, its orbital path crosses Neptune's. It is now a "Dwarf Planet."
2006-08-25 01:14:18 · answer #10 · answered by James 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋