pluto. whats up wid da debate?

Answer 1

looks like Pluto is out - due to the fact that the other "planets" discovered are bigger then Pluto - Pluto has always been in controversy and it is hard to even site with the Hubble - so now we will have to learn 12 planets in stead of 9
It almost feels like when they discovered the world was round after thinking it was flat - don't you think

I really don't care how you spell as long as the question is smart or funny

Answer 2

The problem is that up until now we really didn't have a fixed definition as to just what is a planet. As a result of this there has been a lot of debate over this question among astronomers. This debate was renewed by the recent discovery of a new body beyond Pluto's orbit that is bigger than Pluto. Was this going to be planet number ten? Are we going to keep adding planets to the list as we find more such objects in that part of the solar system?

Well, the astronomical community resolved these question at the International Astronomical Union conference held in Prague this week. Yesterday (Thursday 24 August 2006) they passed the following resolution setting down classifications for the various bodies in our solar system:

"RESOLUTION 5A
"The IAU therefore resolves that planets and other bodies in our Solar System be defined into three distinct categories in the following way:

"(1) A planet1 is a celestial body that (a) is in orbit around the Sun, (b) has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round) shape, and (c) has cleared the neighbourhood around its orbit.

"(2) A dwarf planet is a celestial body that (a) is in orbit around the Sun, (b) has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round) shape2, (c) has not cleared the neighbourhood around its orbit, and (d) is not a satellite.

"(3) All other objects3 orbiting the Sun shall be referred to collectively as "Small Solar System Bodies".

"1 The eight planets are: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
"2 An IAU process will be established to assign borderline objects into either dwarf planet and other categories.
"3 These currently include most of the Solar System asteroids, most Trans-Neptunian Objects (TNOs), comets, and other small bodies."

Under this definition, Pluto will no longer be called a planet. It is now classified as a dwarf planet because it has not cleared out the neighborhood of its orbit.

Thus, we are down to only eight bodies that are considered planets now:

Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune

Answer 3

the debate has finally ended and the astronomers had decided that pluto is no longer a planet and from now on there would be only 8 official planets

Answer 4

I would stop worrying about the classification of planetary bodies and learn how to type correctly.

I am not usually a pedant when people genuinely cannot spell, but your question symbolises everything I despise about our country's youth. You know perfectly well that that isn't how you should spell 'with' or 'the'; but you persist with it out of some effort to be cool or 'gangsta'.

Arghhhh!

Answer 5

It's not longer aplnet but rather a dwarf planet.

Answer 6

I agree! Does it really matter whether its a planet or not! I don't really care its a lump of rock that i have no intention of visiting!

Answer 7

Pardon, I dont speak that language. Are you from another country or just thick and cant write properly?

Answer 8

YO YO YO. wow you is da first gangsta i is met who cares bout planets innit! good 4 yous. wkd!

Answer 9

it's planetary status has been taken away, it is now just a minor planet

Answer 10

bunch of sados