wats up with the pluto planet?

Question

y did they reconsider it as a planet?

Answer 1

some guys decided it was too small to be considered a planet, even tho it acts like a planet..............i wonder if they are so quick to judge their own body parts?

Answer 2

They always have reconsidered but I cant believe they actually changed it. Its because Pluto is so much smaller then all the other planets. If you look at a map of the solar system, there is a significant difference. Also pluto and neptune switch places. Scientists say this is because pluto is just a moon of neptune and so orbits around the planet.
Personally, I think it is stupid that they changed it. I would have understood if they changed their minds in the beginning but Pluto has been considered a planet for so long. Its not like changing the technical term from a planet to a moon is going to make a difference, expect changing textbooks.

Answer 3

I know. It feels really weird for all of us who grew up w/ 9 planets. On Aug 24, scientists got together to define consistent criteria. Below is an excerpt from an article that explains this, followed by the link. Pluto met the first 3 criteria, but failed on the 4th: "cleared the neighborhood around its orbit" which means that either its gravity field was strong enough to attract all the debris or cause the debris to circle it like a moon.

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The International Astronomical Union (IAU), the official scientific body for astronomical nomenclature, defines "planet" as a celestial body that:[1][2]

(a) is in orbit around a star or stellar remnants;
(b) has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round) shape;
(c) is not massive enough to initiate thermonuclear fusion of deuterium in its core; and,
(d) has cleared the neighbourhood around its orbit.

Answer 4

i have known since i was about twelve that pluto does not have the physical and orbital characteristics that fit the pattern set by the major bodies in the solar system. later, after the discovery of hundreds of other similar bodies with similar orbits, i knew this was inevitable. i have been waiting for the iau to reclassify pluto. i feel somewhat relieved. this is the right thing to do, believe me.

the international astronomical union defined three terms "planet", "dwarf planet", and "small solar system body". this does not change anything about the solar system or pluto. it just corrects the mistake of classifying pluto as a planet initially.

because pluto 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 5

They found out that pluto is too small for being a planet, so instead they called it a dwarf and its no longer a planet anymore.

Answer 6

I personally think that it should be considered a planet on one condition. It's moon needs to be considered as a sister planet. Pluto's orbit is such that it acts as a planet, making it into one, as far as I can see. It's moon, Charon I think, is almost the same size as it is.

Answer 7

Yea they removed pluto because the planet was to small so now there is 8 planets.

Answer 8

Some sientists found out lately that Pluto is too small for being called a planet.... So we all must revise what we once learnt at school...

:-) from Germany

Answer 9

i know. i think,personally, it is stupid. they r wasting millions of tax payers money to cross out a planet in books? and y would they evn consider claming it's not? because of it's size?it's still a planet and i think this is bullshit

Answer 10

Who will speak up for the Plutonians? We need to stop bigotry in its tracks, who'll be next, the Uranians?