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.
Pluto fails criterion c because it has many neighbors of similar mass.
Aloha
2006-09-25 11:45:37
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answer #1
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answered by Anonymous
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Pluto, the last planet to join the heavenly pantheon, became the first to leave it. The status of Pluto had been under discussion for some time, but with the discovery of 2003 UB313, nicknamed Xena, the question became acute, for it seemingly had as much right as Pluto to be called a planet.
On August 24, 2006, the International Astronomical Union surprised the world by voting in a new definition of planet, one that would exclude Pluto and bring the total number down to eight. (There had previously been been strong speculation that the redefinition would bring the total up to 12 instead of down.)
Pluto was instead classified as a dwarf planet, along with Ceres and the aforementioned Xena. The main difference between a dwarf planet and the real thing is that the dwarf variety has not cleared the area of its orbital path.
This redefinition met with a wave of protests from those who wanted to see the ninth planet grandfathered in, including but not limited to supporters of the late Clyde Tombaugh, who discovered Pluto in 1930. His widow, however, said he would have been accepting of the IAU's decision since "he was a scientist" and understood that astronomers had to take into account newly discovered objects in the Kuiper Belt (where Pluto is located).
But opponents of Pluto's demotion remain unconsoled and have generated a thriving industry in T-shirts, mugs and other memorabilia. Among the many slogans of this movement was one which played on the mnemonic for the names of the erstwhile nine:
"My! Very educated morons just screwed up numerous planetariums."
2006-09-25 02:03:14
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answer #2
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answered by Anonymous
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It's a Space Ship! How can it be considered a Planet?
2006-09-22 21:41:36
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answer #3
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answered by Snaglefritz 7
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I think the size of the planet.
2006-09-22 23:12:12
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answer #4
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answered by cass 7
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Training!
2006-09-22 21:38:54
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answer #5
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answered by meatheadmarch 1
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how can it b a planet when it is a dog?
2006-09-24 15:24:18
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answer #6
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answered by asia briana 1
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size, substance, and its orbit wasnt what a "planet" 's orbit should be.
2006-09-22 21:41:51
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answer #7
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answered by SuperChick 2
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