is pluto still a planet?

Answer 1

I am an amateur astronomer for 20 years. I have also discussed this subject with other amateur and professional astronomers in the past .

It have been known for decades that at some point Plutos position of a planet would be in Jeopardy. It was going to happen when another Pluto size object was found in the Kuiper belt. Pluto is a Trans-Neptunian object (TNO) in the Kupier Belt. For years astronomers have known this, it has just kept planethood because no others were know. Yet we all knew that it was just a matter of time. So Pluto is has it has been known by professional and amateur astronomers for years a TNO.

Pluto is different then other planets in quite a few ways. First Pluto is on in inclination to the planetary plane. That is high compared to the “real” planets. The other 8 planets lie on roughly a plane as you compare their orbits around the sun. Pluto is inclined on this plane by about 16 degrees. Pluto also have a very eccentric orbit, it is such an ellipse that it is closer to the sun for a short period of it orbit (this is many years) then Neptune it this is the reason why it’s a “trans-Neptunian “ object and not just a Kuiper belt object. Also Pluto is very small, when compared to all other planets then Mercury. Had Pluto been found to be a planet on size alone the argument might have been made that out own moon “Luna” is also a planet as the moon orbit’s the sun and not the earth, we only put a small scallop in it’s orbit so tha at some points it’s close the to the sun then the Earth and at other points it farther. Because of Plutos Size, orbit outside the planetary plane, and eccentric orbit Pluto has always been an “odd ball” planet. If Pluto had been found to be a planet along with all the other several hundred predicted objects yet to be found similar to Pluto, we would probably have to make a sub group of planets that describe the first 8 as they do have additional charticersiats that make the similar that other Kuiper belt and Trans-Neptunian objects don’t have.

I have always thought the professional astronomers who wanted Pluto and other Trans-Neptunian objects to be classified as plants all had a desire or at least the opportunity to discover a new planet. As defined now the chances of a new planets being discovered are very remote.

Answer 2

I don't myself but it's hard to get it out of my head not being a planet b/c thats what I've been told since 1st grade programed into my head. Sadly the media is also trying to distract use other matters besides pluto u know Anna Nicoles death, the custity battle, Lindsey Lohan stuff. It's almost as if they no longer cared that human being were being killed b/c every single day I hear news of someone dying. I guess there trying to make the news less depressing. Good thing I've been watching local news since before kindergarden other wise I may not know anything about the world.

Answer 3

I don't give a damn what NASA says.Pluto will always be a planet in my eyes, it's not like NASA hasn't been wrong before. If people want to say we have only 8 planet they should make that 7, after all Jupiter is nothing but failed star.

Answer 4

Pluto was stolen by the Dwarfs..
It is now as Dwarf planet...
Still there but under new ownership...

Answer 5

No, its not. And from what I've been reading about pluto, its about time they said its not a planet. I knew it wasn't a long time ago.

Answer 6

Pluto is never a planet. It is a cartoon character.

Answer 7

No.
P.S But is still consider it a planet.

Answer 8

It's considered a dwarf planet now.

Answer 9

Nope, it's been classified as a dwarf planet.

Answer 10

not anymore we now have 8 planets