how many planets are there in the solar system ,as there are many new hevenly bodies found?
2006-10-01 19:22:12 · 12 answers · asked by aneesha_bizzul 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Currently there are 8 planets
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.
Pluto use to be a planet but they took it off the list this year. A set of strict guidelines are now used to identify a planet.
They are:
1. The object must be in orbit around the Sun.
2. The object must be massive enough to be a sphere by its own gravitational force.
3. It must have cleared the neighborhood around its orbit.
Pluto fails to meet the third condition
The guildlines were put in place by the International Astronomical Union (I.A.U.) in 2006
2006-10-01 19:30:36 · answer #1 · answered by Master of Chaos 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This is actually a trick question because astronomers are still debating on exactly what would define a "planet".
The issue of a clear definition for planet came to a head in 2005 with the discovery of the trans-Neptunian object Eris, a body larger than the smallest accepted planet, Pluto. In response, the International Astronomical Union (IAU), which is internationally recognized by astronomers as the body responsible for resolving issues of astronomical nomenclature, released its decision on the matter. According to their definition (which only applies to the Solar System), a planet is a body that orbits the Sun, is large enough for its own gravity to make it round, and has "cleared the neighbourhood" of smaller objects.
Since that definition classifies Pluto not as a planet but as a dwarf planet, the official number of planets has fallen from the traditional nine to eight. This definition has not resolved all controversies, however, and some in the astronomical community have rejected it.
2006-10-01 19:27:12 · answer #2 · answered by Zim 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
8
2006-10-01 19:31:20 · answer #3 · answered by Richard 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
As far as I'm concerned, if a dwarf human is still a human then a dwarf planet is still a planet. That makes 11 planets (the classical 9 plus Ceres and Eris) plus several other candidates.
2006-10-01 19:36:58 · answer #4 · answered by John's Secret Identity™ 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There's only 8 now, Pluto is no longer considered a planet.
2006-10-01 19:30:55 · answer #5 · answered by alindler83 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune - and previously Pluto - but they just decided a few months ago that it was only a moon - not a planet - so that leaves 8
2006-10-01 19:25:16 · answer #6 · answered by Christy 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
8 planets
2006-10-01 19:24:56 · answer #7 · answered by Christian M 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
8 in our system pluto and xena got down graded
2006-10-01 19:25:35 · answer #8 · answered by deitymike 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
eight as pluto is now a dwarf planet
2006-10-01 22:27:05 · answer #9 · answered by tanu 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
in ours there are 8 at present excluding pluto and xena
2006-10-01 20:06:37 · answer #10 · answered by KSA 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋