2006-08-31 16:27:03 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Charon is Pluto's largest moon... it is large enough to have some astronomers say that it and Pluto are a double dwarf planet. Ceres is the largest of the asteroids in the asteroid belt. It is also large enough to be considered a dwarf planet. However, because its orbit is cluttered by other asteroids, the astonomers have decided it could not be considered a planet.
2006-08-31 16:36:52 · answer #1 · answered by boj12345 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The current definition of planets as drafted by the IAU has both Ceres and Charon (and Pluto) as dwarf planets. They are still planets by the first two parts of the definition, just in a classification different than the eight "true" planets (Mercury through Neptune).
The similarity exists when we look at stars. Technically, the Sun is a yellow dwarf star, but one wouldn't say it isn't a star. Or I wouldn't, at least.
It's all in the current definition. Ceres was considered a planet for about fifty years after its discovery. It was when a lot more of the asteroids in and around it were found that it was reclassified.
2006-09-08 15:02:41 · answer #2 · answered by eriurana 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pokie where have you been and how could you miss the 400 posts that have been on this about Dwarf Planets?
BOTH are now considered DWARF PLANETS. Dwarf planets can be other things, Ceres is a dwarf planet that is also an asteroid. Pluto and Charon are dwarf planets that are also comets or Kuiper Belt objects. What sets a dwarf planet apart from other moons, comets, and asteroids is it's size and shape. These are larger, rounder objects amoung many others. They have not cleared their orbit, they are parts of belts, and therefore cannot be considered real planets.
2006-08-31 16:47:09 · answer #3 · answered by iMi 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Ceres would qualify as a planet because it is nearly spherical and sufficiently distant from other planets. Charon is also considered a planet but it was actually a part of Pluto that got ripped off but it's still a planet.
2006-08-31 16:34:29 · answer #4 · answered by cokiepokie 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Ceres is definitely a dwarf planet as it is too small.
Charon is definitely a dwarf planet as it orbits a body bigger than it.
2006-08-31 21:40:46 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
well, charon as far as i know is a moon of pluto, and if the astronomical community voted that pluto is not a planet, then neigher is charon.
2006-08-31 17:08:17 · answer #6 · answered by Crzy_dude 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They are either a Pluton or a drawf. They are not real planets.
2006-08-31 16:32:45 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
YES, THEY ARE DWARF PLANETS!
2006-08-31 18:45:25 · answer #8 · answered by mem 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋