If pluto is now a minor planetoid of the kuiper belt, why then is mercury still a planet as the two have similar characteristics?
2006-10-23 06:07:43 · 14 answers · asked by ShadowGate 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Funny. But in all seriousness, Mercury is significantly larger than Pluto and is not in a belt of similar-sized objects.
2006-10-23 06:18:48 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Get over it!
Pluto is not a true planet! Pluto should never have been counted as a planet in the first place! It got on the list only because astronomers in the 1930s had no idea what else is in the outer solar system.
You've got to get on with your life!!
2006-10-23 06:23:22 · answer #2 · answered by Anne Marie 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Mercury fits the definition of a planet. Mercury is bigger than Pluto and it is the only object in the vicinity of its orbit.
2006-10-23 07:04:38 · answer #3 · answered by bldudas 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
(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;
(c) has cleared the neighbourhood around its orbit.
C is the major one that separates Mercury from pluto. Because Pluto crosses neptunes orbit. It doesn't meet this criteria. Mercury does meets all three.
2006-10-23 06:20:47 · answer #4 · answered by mailler_mike 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Because it is decided by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) and we have no power to contradict it because they have right to decide whether it is a planet or not. ^_~
They agreed that to qualify as a planet, a celestial body must be in orbit around a star while not itself being a star. It also must be large enough in mass "for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a... nearly round shape, and has cleared the neighbourhood around its orbit." Pluto was automatically disqualified because its oblong orbit overlaps with Neptune's.
2006-10-23 06:17:11 · answer #5 · answered by Jehzeel 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They don't have the Same characteristics, Mercury is in a circular orbit which meets the new definition of a planet and Pluto is in an elliptical orbit which doesn't.
2006-10-23 06:15:52 · answer #6 · answered by londonhawk 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
It seems that Jupiter is less like the earth than Pluto. How can you call a bunch of gas a planet?
2006-10-23 11:22:58 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Probably as its the closest to the sun. Cuz you know if pluto actually falls out of orbit, it wont dramatically bother the other's planet's orbits. BUT if mercury drops out... let's say we'll be heading for armegeddon or somethin.
But there's supossed to be a new planetoid too... Xena or somethin along those lines which is even smaller than pluto.. look it up. see what you find
2006-10-23 06:37:52 · answer #8 · answered by reese 1 · 0⤊ 4⤋
The only thing Mercury and Pluto have in common is that they are both spherical, and they both orbit the Sun. That's it - they have nothing more in common.
2006-10-23 07:37:09 · answer #9 · answered by kris 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It just goes to show that scientists do not like dogs. 1st they demote the dog-star nebula as commonplace, and now they demote Pluto to a "dwarf-planet." Maybe they would not have changed it if it were named "Felix."
2006-10-23 07:28:20 · answer #10 · answered by archetype 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋