2006-09-13 18:59:01 · 13 answers · asked by ABittern 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
The IAU members gathered at the 2006 General Assembly agreed that a "planet" is defined as 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 neighbourhood around its orbit. This means that the Solar System consists of eight "planets" Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. A new distinct class of objects called "dwarf planets" was also decided. It was agreed that "planets" and "dwarf planets" are two distinct classes of objects. The first members of the "dwarf planet" category are Ceres, Pluto and 2003 UB313 (temporary name). More "dwarf planets" are expected to be announced by the IAU in the coming months and years. Aloha
2006-09-17 16:01:35 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I have been on this planet earth for over 64 years now and far as I am concern, it still is a planet.
Just because some yo yo sent up a so called probe to check it out and got back some bad information on it doesn't mean it doesn't exist.
How come they never check out those two planets on the out skirts of our Galaxy?
The Hubble telescope discovered that those two planets out there looks something like our planet and that was the last thing they said about it.
I have always believe that there are other life out there and we should take a closer look at those two planets.
2006-09-14 02:09:39 · answer #2 · answered by greg76991 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because of its size and form...
And on basing about its form, earth then is not a planet as it did not conform to IAU because only the water that made it so, while the Pluto has the same kind of contours but with the solid ice and not water to conform its final outcome.
And on its size, what the hell... it conforms to the criteria before as well as other criteria and had been tagged as the smallest planet with three satellites.
2006-09-14 02:43:46 · answer #3 · answered by wacky_racer 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Based on its size, orbiting path, size of its moon vis-a-vis Pluto have made for some to suggest that it is not a Planet. It was not an unanimous decision for declaring Pluto, as NOT a planet.
VR
2006-09-17 23:14:45 · answer #4 · answered by sarayu 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its mass is not enough to be classified as a planet. Besides, it always got in to other planets orbits. Normal planets don't do that. They stay in their own orbits. Pluto's orbit is quite slanted, sometimes getting in other planets orbits. It's now considered a dwarf planet with Charon, its own sattelite, Ceres, the largest asteroid known, and Xena, the recently discovered planet with its sattelite, Gabriel.
2006-09-14 02:23:30 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
In regard to planets I guess size does matter!
Sorry Pluto.
2006-09-14 03:05:00 · answer #6 · answered by iraq51 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Its not just the size, also its composition (basically a filthy ball of ice) and most importatnly maybe its orbit, wich is very different from all other planets' sometimes plutos orbit goes inside that of neptunes.
2006-09-14 02:07:41 · answer #7 · answered by alexqr79 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I read it also had to do with the fact that it doesnt have enough gravity and an atmosphere. And also it seems that now it is taking another path going further away from the planets. I wonder what happened to planet X?
2006-09-14 02:04:06 · answer #8 · answered by #125 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it no longer is accepted as meeting the criteria recently set by the Internatiol Astronomical Union, such as having sufficient mass and essentially assuring a lack of other bodies in the area.
2006-09-14 02:01:57 · answer #9 · answered by Jeremy L 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because the size it's not big enough to include the pluto into our solar system.
2006-09-14 02:04:07 · answer #10 · answered by ooowen 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋