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:
2006-10-17 04:20:25
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answer #1
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answered by Anonymous
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Not anymore.
Pluto's Demotion to 'Dwarf Planet' has Far-reaching Consequences
Friday, September 22, 2006
2006-10-16 09:04:27
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answer #2
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answered by DanE 7
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I even have pluto interior the "first abode' conjunct my ascendant in my chart,and that i think it quite is capability very strongly in my character,because of the fact i'm the type who could be obsessed with issues,and that i've got a not common time letting issues or human beings bypass,and whilst i opt for something i bypass after it with finished rigidity,and positioned like each little thing into what i opt for,and infrequently that scares me a sprint because of the fact i can bypass to extremes plenty that i make myself in simple terms approximately ill which isn't stable in any respect,yet i do it.I even have an inclination to push myself quite not common with something that i do,and that i won't stop till i'm getting what i opt for all executed or the way i opt for it executed.it quite is in simple terms approximately like an all or not something innovations-set with me even nevertheless I even have libra as my becoming sign.
2016-11-23 14:58:50
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answer #3
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answered by ? 4
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No.
Pluto is a dog character from Walt Disney
2006-10-16 09:15:44
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answer #4
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answered by idc_bd k 2
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By "definition" it's a dwarf planet, and thus not a planet. Thanks the IAU for that :P
(As for personal opinions, Pluto will always be a planet for me.)
New definition: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planet
International Astronomical Union: http://www.iau.org/
2006-10-16 09:04:40
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answer #5
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answered by icez 4
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They call it a dwarf planet, but a planet is a planet, so I say yes
2006-10-16 09:08:53
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answer #6
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answered by Anonymous
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sort of its a dwarf planet meaning that its still orbits our sun isnt space junk and isnt an astroid
2006-10-16 09:09:17
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answer #7
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answered by Phish 2
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It's been debateable since its discoverer clyde thomabugh
2006-10-16 09:22:35
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answer #8
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answered by SARSAT-BT20 2
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No. But he is still Mickey Mouse's dog.
2006-10-16 09:08:53
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answer #9
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answered by kidd 4
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No, it's planet title has been stripped away......
2006-10-16 09:08:32
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answer #10
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answered by parrothead2371 6
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