2006-10-11 00:52:23 · 22 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
yes, pluto is not a planet. pluto does orbit the sun, is ball-shaped, does not have an isolated orbit (a bunch of other similar bodies have similar orbits.), and is not a satellite so it is not a planet. this does not change anything about the solar system or pluto. it just corrects the mistake of classifying pluto as a planet initially. i don't know how long this will drag on tho. many planetary astronomers are not satisfied that the definition is rigorous enuf. i can accept that the definition is flawed, but i can not accept that pluto is a planet.
many astronomers consider pluto and charon to be a binary system, but two small bodies orbit that system. they are called nix and hydra.
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 "out of place". now that astronomers have found hundreds of other bodies with similar orbits, classifying "134340 pluto" as a planet is even more irrational. this was the right thing to do, believe me.
incidental, "134340 pluto" was never a moon of neptune. neptune did capture triton. this is why triton has a retrograde orbit. also, "136199 eris" is about five percent bigger than "134340 pluto".
2006-10-11 11:43:23 · answer #1 · answered by warm soapy water 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
They decided that it isn't because there apparently isn't a standard set of rules for what a planet should be, but if they say pluto is a planet because it's so big then the moon and some asteroids would be classed as planets and basically there's flaws in all of the rules, so they agreed that it can still be a planet if it wants to be. I saw a documentary all about it, everyone was saying different things, some saying it can't be a planet and some saying it can, that was only a few weeks ago.
2006-10-11 03:31:11 · answer #2 · answered by Mummy of 2 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
There is now a sub class of planets called something like Plutons, which Pluto and a couple of other solar bodies have been classed as.
Then there is the catogorry called True Planets which the rest fall in to.
2006-10-11 01:16:29 · answer #3 · answered by Joolz of Salopia 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Pluto is NOT considered to be a planet. Most answers have pointed that out already. BUT, trying to find a current definition of a planet that is intelligible to the layman and hence explains Pluto's demise is somewhat difficult!
2006-10-11 03:27:13 · answer #4 · answered by RATTY 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Yes indeed. They did. Pluto is no longer a planet because its axis is way to much like a oval and so its no more a planet!
2006-10-12 15:43:11 · answer #5 · answered by FP 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I could care less. Pluto will always be a planet to me. You don't just give a planet status in the solar system for 76 years and then demote it. Who do these people think they are?
2006-10-11 01:05:58 · answer #6 · answered by trafficjams 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Yes, they have decided that Pluto is not a Planet.
Personally, I think this is an absolute waste of time
and money. Suppose some of these guys are not
able to find anything better to do, but need to come
up with new findings in order maintain status and
a good budget to keep their salaries. I wonder who
they are fooling.
2006-10-12 01:53:46 · answer #7 · answered by Ricky 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Pluto is not a planet anymore
2006-10-11 01:00:07 · answer #8 · answered by statistics 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Pluto is not a planet anymore.
Now all texts books are wrong.
2006-10-11 01:00:36 · answer #9 · answered by sw21uk2 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Pluto is a dwarf planet.
The IAU are a bunch of mental midgets (and no offense to Little People, but I need that term to show what a bunch of retrograde thinkers bedevils science today)
2006-10-11 02:32:53 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋