Whether Pluto is a planet or not ?

Answer 1

its been demoted to a moonlike planet small and insignificant how sad stupid people redefining things all the time i was fine with pluto being a planet this screws up my whole system on remembering the order of the planets i used to say my very educated mother just served us nine pizzas now shes serving a big whopping nine of nothing sheesh

Answer 2

Pluto is reclassified into something NOT a planet by IAU. However, on the other hand, IAU is only representing about 5 to 10% of the community in professional Astronomers. There are still debates going on with this issue.

Yes, Pluto doesn't have the necessary characteristics of "planets" (less elliptical orbit, bigger mass...etc.) However, it was considered as a planet for many decades. So I think Pluto should be a historic planet, which means it is a "planet" just because we didn't know much about its strange characteristics when it was discovered, and its "plantary" status is already in everyone's mind.

Answer 3

It begs a definition of a planet.

If it orbits the sun all by itself (or as the largest body in a multi-body system), then I think it is a planet.

Most "modern" astronomers, however, are "enlightened" and believe Pluto to be a rogue capture, not an "originating body".

For this reason, they seek to demote Pluto.

They have good arguments for this. But it also jeopardizes (and demeans) further discoveries. Xena (as it is called) is bigger and farther away than Pluto. Under the classical sense of planets, it would have qualified as a legitimate discovery (the fabled Planet X). But it is what they describe it to be: a rogue planetary body that just happens to orbit the sun.

A more clear definition of a planetary body is needed.

I believe (personal opinion) that planetary moons are also planets, just smaller than their big brother. Our Earth-Moon system is a perfect example. The Moon is larger than Pluto and rivals Mercury in size. Yet it is considered to be "just" a moon.

But it is a planet if it orbits by itself around the sun.

For this reason, large moons (Ours, Jupiter's, Saturn's, etc.) need a classification that recognizes their circular shape and significant gravimetric fields.

I submit that planets that are large enough to sustain an atmosphere under their current conditions should be afforded the label "Atmospheric Planetary Body". Smaller planets that cannot maintain an atmosphere should be called a "Non-Atmospheric Planetary Body". Irregular (or asteroidal) bodies should be called just that, an "Asteroidal Body". Large gas giants (like the outer 4, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune) should be called a "Gaseous Planetary Body'.

By subdividing the planets into their correct place, the solar system will open up like a flower petal. It's much better than thumbing the nose at the world and saying "Pluto sucks!".

Answer 4

Pluto is a dwarf planet in the solar system, having been formerly considered the ninth full planet from the Sun until it was reclassified on August 24, 2006 according to the International Astronomical Union's (IAU) redefinition of the term "planet". Pluto could be classified, again, among dwarf planets as the prototype of a yet-to-be-named family of trans-Neptunian objects.

Answer 5

No - Pluto is a planetoid... If you're going to call Pluto a planet, then you would also have to call six or seven newly discovered celestial bodies planets too; some of them are bigger than Pluto.

Answer 6

Pluto has been officially downgraded to a "Dwarf" Planet.

As a result, there are now, in our Solar System,
eight (8) Planets instead of nine (9).

Answer 7

Pluto has been "demoted" to a "minor planet", based on its eccentric orbit and smaller size. It is now one of a group of at least 5 minor planets, most of which are beyond Neptune's orbit, except for Ceres, between Mars and Jupiter.

Try typing this into your browser:

http://www.space.com/pluto/

There is a lot of nice, scientific space info on this site!

Answer 8

A committee of astronomers worldwide decided to demote Pluto's planet status.

Answer 9

well.. as a matter of fact, it isn't a planet... pluto has been oficialy removed from the solar system or in other words, it does not belong to the solar system anymore. because of being a very small planet, it does not seem to be visible for the people.

Answer 10

No it's not - the international science committee met and redefine the definition of planet and Pluto no longer qualifies.