is xena a planet?

Answer 1

the international astronomical union defined three terms "planet", "dwarf planet", and "small solar system body". this does not change anything about the solar system.

because 2003 UB313 (xena) orbits the sun, is round, orbits the sun with a bunch of other similar bodies with similar orbits, and is not a satellite it is a dwarf planet.

(1) A 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) shape, and (c) has cleared the neighborhood 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) shape, (c) has not cleared the neighborhood around its orbit, and (d) is not a satellite.

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


look here:
http://www.iau2006.org/mirror/www.iau.org/iau0603/index.html

Answer 2

Astronomers have discovered a new object that some people are calling our Solar System's "tenth planet". The object is a large sphere of ice and rock similar to Pluto. It orbits the Sun on the edge of the Solar System. Like Pluto, it is in the area called the Kuiper Belt.

The object has the temporary name "2003 UB313". After astronomers decide whether or not to call it a planet they will give it a permanent name. For now, it has been nicknamed "Xena". It was officially discovered in July 2005. It was discovered by Michael Brown, Chad Trujillo, and David Rabinowitz.

Xena looks like it is about 2,700 km (1,700 miles) across. We aren't sure of its exact size because it is so far away and very hard to see, even with the world's biggest telescopes. It is probably larger than Pluto, though, which is 2,390 km (1,490 miles) across. Since Xena is bigger than Pluto, and since most people consider Pluto a planet, some astronomers think Xena is a planet. However, some other astronomers don't think Xena should be called a planet. Right now, there is no official definition of a planet. Scientists are discussing what the definition of a planet should be.

Xena has a small moon. The moon has been nicknamed "Gabrielle".

Xena's orbit is odd. The orbit is not a circle, so Xena moves closer to and further from the Sun as it goes around. It takes Xena 557 years to go around one time! Xena's orbit is also tilted... it doesn't move in the same plane that the other planets orbit in. Xena's strange orbit is another reason some astronomers don't think it should be called a planet.

The “10 th planet” was discovered with the Samuel Oschin Telescope at the Palomar Observatory near San Diego.
Astronomers have discovered what many are saying is our Solar System’s 10 th planet. It’s reportedly to be named Xena, and its discovery is the first of a planet since Pluto was found 75 years ago.
The "tenth planet" is only slightly larger than Pluto, new Hubble Space Telescope images prove. It had been thought the planet, dubbed Xena, might be 25% to 30% larger.
Intriguingly, the downsizing means the distant world must be brighter than almost any other object in the solar system, suggesting it is constantly being resurfaced.

Xena, officially called 2003 UB313, was first announced in July 2005 and lies about three times as far from the Sun as Pluto. Its brightness suggested it was larger than Pluto, but it was not clear by how much because astronomers did not know how much sunlight its surface reflected.

Answer 3

Xena is only an unofficial name for the Kuiper Belt object 2003 UB313. According to the original proposal that the IAU (International Astronomical Union) was considering, UB313 would matched the criteria for a planet. But when the final vote came, it was on the modified proposal which then classified it as a "dwarf planet" along with the former asteroid Ceres and the former planet Pluto.
http://www.iau2006.org/mirror/www.iau.org/iau0602/index.html

Answer 4

Xena, officially named 2003 UB313 at the moment, falls under the category of Dwarf Planet as of 24th August 2006.

It is a Trans-Neptunion body that lies beyond Pluto and is larger than Pluto in size.

UB313 also has a small moon which the discoverer has nicknamed "Danielle."

Answer 5

No, Xena is not a planet, some people believe that it is a place where different life forms are created in magical worlds though.

Answer 6

As on 30th Aug 2006, Xena is not a planet.

Answer 7

It would have been, under the proposal some 10 days ago, which would have allowed for twelve planets.

Trouble is, that would also open the door to dozens of other small, spherical objects in the solar system.

So they came up with a tighter definition, that the "planet" must live in a clean orbit--must have cleaned other objects out of its orbit.

Actually, it's better that way. Who wants there to be 131 planets?

Answer 8

um, no.

"Xena" last time I checked was considered to be an asteroid or moon

Answer 9

No. It is a dwarf planet, like Pluto, Ceres , etc.

Answer 10

No, she's a warrior. you know... Xena warrior princess.

she was hott.