what is pluto?

http://www.iau.org/fileadmin/content/pdfs/Resolution_GA26-5-6.pdf
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pluto

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.

2006-09-19 13:57:24 · answer #1 · answered by warm soapy water 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋

Pluto is used to be one of the planets on the solar system.It was discovered at 1930.But in August 2006 The International Astronomical Union (IAU) voted on their first defination of a planet.Based on it,Pluto is no longer a planet as they found that is unlike the other eight planets which they are:Mercury,Venus,Earth,Mars,Jupiter,saturn,Uranus and Neptun.

2006-09-19 05:24:31 · answer #2 · answered by themermaid_2010 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋

1. Lord of the Underworld (Roman Mythology)
2. Dwarf Planet
3. A Disney Character

2006-09-19 05:15:59 · answer #3 · answered by Yang Guo 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋

Pluto is definitely a very popular dog. ask any kid.
Not so popular a planet now. In fact not classified as one now.
Why?... coz its revolution axis pattern differs from regular planets

2006-09-19 05:09:50 · answer #4 · answered by zulu 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋

Planet

2006-09-19 05:07:47 · answer #5 · answered by Manish B 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋

A small rock, currently classed as a dwarf planet

Oh, and its also a greek (or roman) god, and the name of a dog

2006-09-19 05:06:46 · answer #6 · answered by Bacteria Boy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋

a planet

2006-09-19 05:07:51 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋

a heavenly body that was once a planet??

2006-09-19 05:12:28 · answer #8 · answered by Candy 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋

is dat a disney character???

2006-09-19 05:43:57 · answer #9 · answered by gel 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋

9 answers