soooo many yrs amd now its not a planet, now they have to change the textbooks
2006-08-25 15:01:58 · 21 answers · asked by A Lonely Kitty__♥ 3 in News & Events ➔ Current Events
They changed its status to a new category, which they are calling "dwarf planets."
The new rules define a planet as "a celestial body that is in orbit around the sun, has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a ... nearly round shape, and has cleared the neighborhood around its orbit."
Pluto doesn't meet the third requirement because it loops around the sun within the Kuiper Belt, a band of icy bodies beyond Neptune.
2006-08-25 15:15:11 · answer #1 · answered by EQ 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It's all due to the advancements in technology, yet even today, the Hubble Space Telescope does not reveal enough about Pluto.
Personally, I am surprised that the scientific community decided that the definition of a planet had to be refined. The New Horizons probe is due to arrive at Pluto in 2015. Why can't they wait until then to start debating whether or not it's a planet.
I'm on the fence about their qualifications. What if it is found to be planet-like? Does having an orbital path that intersects Neptune's make it any less a planet? On the other hand, if New Horizons proves that Pluto is indeed more of a Kuiper Belt Object, then orbital pathing is a moot point.
2006-08-25 22:12:26 · answer #2 · answered by Awesome Bill 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good question lets go ask NASA
1) A planet is a celestial body that (a) has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round) shape, and (b) is in orbit around a star, and is neither a star nor a satellite of a planet.
(3) We recognize Pluto to be a planet by the above scientific definition, as are one or more recently discovered large Trans-Neptunian Objects. In contrast to the classical planets, these objects typically have highly inclined orbits with large eccentricities and orbital periods in excess of 200 years. We designate this category of planetary objects, of which Pluto is the prototype, as a new class that we call “plutons”.
Hum with the above and this weeks take back of above I think they are tossing that two headed coin again.
Heads not a planet...Hey last month heads was a planet.
Personally I do not care but what a waste of paper this is (text books ,celestial maps) or a way to sell new ones. Have a great day on earth (still a planet)
2006-08-25 22:09:18 · answer #3 · answered by momsapplepeye 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is because Neptune crosses its orbit and is not the 9th planet from the sun, it moves to the 8th spot for a time being. That is why they changed it. They recently changed it due to the many other celestrial bodies that coudl also be counted as a planet..
Everyone elses definitinos above mine are wrong.
According to an astronomer in this article
"His conclusion is simple: "From now on, everyone should ignore the distracting debates of the scientists. Planets in our solar system should be defined not by some attempt at forcing a scientific definition on a thousands-of-years-old cultural term, but by simply embracing culture. Pluto is a planet because culture says it is."
2006-08-25 22:05:37 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
because someone at cal-tech i believe (whose name eludes me) discovered a possible future planet (if you will) that was larger than Pluto so he wanted it to be declared a planet. then all the astronomers decided in Prauge (sp?) that if his was declared a planet what about all the others they had discovered. so they had to choose wheather to include all (therefore having school kids memorize more than possible for most) or decrease the size of the solar system. now we have a system a planet smaller.
((i wish they just included all the planets...))
2006-08-25 22:08:38 · answer #5 · answered by wherevertheanswerlies 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its a dwarf planet, too far, too small and now all the new
textbooks that will be needed for college - it's a
scientific $$$$$ thing. Too far away to ever explore by NASA,
so, it's getting eliminated.
2006-08-25 22:19:02 · answer #6 · answered by floridagirl2 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Do we really have to accept this? What if they said there will be no more Thursdays any more. Instead we will have 2 Saturdays? Who put them in charge any way.. We better cut off their government grant money if this all they have to do with it!
2006-08-25 22:06:29 · answer #7 · answered by Bear Naked 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
No, Pluto is still a planet.they just thought about removing it because they thought it was to small of a planet. And it didn't fit in with the other planets
2006-08-25 22:06:04 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋
It has an eccentric orbit that takes it all the way into Neptune's orbit. Thus doesn't have an orbit of its own...
2006-08-25 22:05:29 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know, but the news of this ruined my day today. NOW what do I call my dog?
2006-08-25 22:54:03 · answer #10 · answered by smallweed 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋