2006-09-17 04:33:31 · 16 answers · asked by GalaxyWarrier 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Pluto does not clear the neighboring planet Neptune. It is a dwarf planet.
The 2006 redefinition of "planet" by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) states that, in the solar system, a planet is a celestial body that:
is in orbit around the Sun,
has sufficient mass so that it assumes a hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round) shape, and
has "cleared the neighborhood" around its orbit.
2006-09-17 05:45:14 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
http://www.iau.org/fileadmin/content/pdfs/Resolution_GA26-5-6.pdf
pluto is not a planet, but pluto orbits the sun, is round, does not have an isolated orbit (a bunch of other similar bodies have similar orbits.), and is not a satellite so it is a dwarf planet. this does not change anything about the solar system or pluto. it just corrects the mistake of classifying pluto as a planet initially.
this same thing has happened before. beginning in 1800, astronomers found a few bodies orbiting between the orbits of mars and jupiter, and they finally stopped calling them planets after the fourth discovery. astronomers then added numerals to the names, and pluto recently got its numeral. 150 years from now, no one will think of "134340 pluto" as a planet. very few will even know we classified it as a planet. "1 ceres" and "136199 eris" are other dwarf planets.
i have been waiting for this since i was about twelve. i feel somewhat satisfied. i knew that pluto didn't fit the pattern set by the major bodies in the solar system so it was an anomaly. it just felt illogical and "out of place". this was the right thing to do, believe me. i don't understand why so many are having such a problem with this.
i don't know how long this will drag on tho. many planetary scientists are not satisfied that the definition is rigorous enough.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dwarf_planet
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1_Ceres
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pluto
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eris_%28dwarf_planet%29
2006-09-17 18:56:23 · answer #2 · answered by warm soapy water 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pluto is now a "dwarf planet."
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 22:58:27 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i just read an article on this it is bcuz pluto was to small at a diameter of 2,300 kilmoters if it landed on earth it could barely stertch to boston to tulsa. see and an a caltech astronermore mike brown had discovered what he thought to be a new plantet and it was only 5% bigger then pultoand it didn't become a planet but pluto was a planet yet it was smaller so the iau came toa vote on whether pluto should stay a planet or become a drwaf planet so now pluto was the smallest planet and is now the second largest dwarf planet...
2006-09-17 19:05:32 · answer #4 · answered by Tay Tay 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's all a matter of how we choose to define it, what parameters we choose to use to determine "planethood". Language. A tree might exist even if no sentient beings were around. But it is only a tree, or bois or any other word for tree because we say that's what it is. A tree is a tree is a tree by any other name. We just decided that Pluto isn't a planet anymore, but it's still there and it is whatever it is no matter what we call it.
OOh. My head hurts!
2006-09-17 11:46:11 · answer #5 · answered by Skeff 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is not a planet because there is absolutely no life in it. It is completely dead, and it only revolves around the sun because of gravity forces. I liked pluto. It reminded me of the disney character.
PEACE
2006-09-17 11:42:11 · answer #6 · answered by SaTa D 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is now being classified as a Dwarf planet, along with two other objects.
2006-09-17 11:41:39 · answer #7 · answered by Scotty 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It doesn't quaify as a planet. It is a planetoid. Large asteroid. That was finally determined several years ago.
2006-09-17 11:37:25 · answer #8 · answered by Valeria 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I'm not a scientist, however it's nothing more than a gigantic rock.
I'm glad it's no longer considered a planet.
2006-09-17 11:41:36 · answer #9 · answered by SydneyS 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Could you TRY to read at least some of the 14,000 posts on this same topic already posted?
2006-09-17 11:37:15 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋