2006-08-30 19:54:55 · 32 answers · asked by As Chilli 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
it's been classified as a dwarf planet. i'm not really sure what that means except for the fact that it's much smaller than the other planets. it has moons and circles the sun, so i'm not sure why it's not just considered a regular planet. is a dwarf human not a human?
2006-08-30 20:05:00 · answer #1 · answered by Peanuts 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pluto is a dwarf planet and the prototype of a yet to be named family of Trans-Neptunian objects.[1][2] It was considered the ninth and smallest of the planets of the Solar System, by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) and the general public from 1930 (the year of its discovery) to 2006. After much debate, the IAU decided on August 24, 2006 to reclassify Pluto as a dwarf planet.[3] It qualified as a planet under the draft definition[4] but it failed to qualify under the final resolution, passed by the General Assembly of the IAU.
Pluto has an eccentric orbit that is highly inclined with respect to the planets and takes it closer to the Sun than Neptune during a portion of its orbit. It is smaller than several moons (see the list of solar system objects by radius). Pluto itself has a large moon named Charon (but see below); two small moons named Nix and Hydra were discovered in 2005. The New Horizons spacecraft, which lifted off from Cape Canaveral, Florida on January 19, 2006, is expected to become the first spacecraft from Earth to fly by Pluto on July 14 2015.
Pluto's astronomical symbol is a P-L monogram, ♇. This represents both the first two letters of the name Pluto and the initials of Percival Lowell, who had searched extensively for a ninth planet and who had lent his name to Lowell Observatory, the place from where, after initiating several earlier searches, Pluto was eventually discovered. (Another symbol sometimes used for Pluto is an astrological symbol and not an astronomical one. It resembles that of Neptune, ♆, but has a circle in place of the middle spoke of the trident.)
2006-08-30 20:12:38 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pluto is now a Dwarf Planet. The rest of the original planets could be considered the Classical Planets. Pluto's orbit sometimes brings it closer to the sun than Neptune and this disqualifies it for Classical Planet status. It's just a hunk of frozen crap anyways, one of any number of frozen bodies we are bound to discover in the Oort Cloud.
2006-08-30 20:10:46 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pluto isnt a planet anymore. Its a dwarf planet.
2006-08-30 19:58:21 · answer #4 · answered by lildude211us 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nope... NASA officially took the term "planet" away from Pluto earlier this week. I have no idea why, but they did. So, Pluto is just a star. Poor Pluto!
2006-08-30 19:57:00 · answer #5 · answered by amb6487 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is what it is, and they can rule that it's actually a super-nova donut and that won't cause it to become something else. Officially, the terminology that will be used to describe Pluto will be a "Dwarf Planet". So, I guess you could say they just wanted to be more specific.
2006-08-30 19:58:42 · answer #6 · answered by aghostprofilebeingempty 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No! And thank...well, I can't say "God" because I don't believe in a "God" so I will say...SCIENCE!
I have always hated Pluto, it is extremely small compared to it's neighboring planets plus it is not a gas planet as all others beyond the asteroid belt are.
2006-08-30 21:56:30 · answer #7 · answered by •) (• 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No..everything we learned in grade school has changed now. There are only 8 planets not 9....We have to make room for NEW planets!
2006-08-30 19:58:08 · answer #8 · answered by GiGi 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pluto is a Disney dog
2006-08-30 20:22:29 · answer #9 · answered by chancethepug 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
some brainy guys of NASA maybe hav told that Pluto is too small to be called a planet....so we hav 8 planets left.....the other pluto is Mickey Mouse's dog......he cany be a planet for sure
2006-08-30 19:58:15 · answer #10 · answered by *No Doubt* 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋