What with some planets being downgraded to asteroids, and some asteroids being upgraded to planets, does anyone know the actual current number of planets in the solar system? Last I heard, they dropped Pluto because its too small... and then there's a planet further away that Pluto that is really big (Planet X???). Thanks for helping clear this up. If there really ARE new planets, maybe we'll have to re-write the rhyme for remembering the order!
2006-12-20 00:27:00 · 17 answers · asked by echidna24 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Knew this wouldn't be a simple question... got answers from 8 planets to 11 already. Anyone with written proof, apart from Wikipedia (which, btw, isn't very good proof because anyone can edit it...)?
2006-12-20 00:43:25 · update #1
Just as many as there used to be.
The IAU scored a big blunder by messing around with the traditional system when all they needed to do was declare that Pluto was officially a Kuiper belt object and only an 'honorary' planet.
To say there 'were 9' or 'are 8' planets is misleading anyway. There are several thousand 'minor planets' (a.k.a. asteroids) throughout the solar system, plus now hundreds more Kuiper objects (ice planets).
It would be better to have object groupings:
- Major Rocky planets (4)
- Minor Rocky planets (many)
- Gas Giants (4)
- Ice Planets (many)
2006-12-20 02:16:38 · answer #1 · answered by Stargazer 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
A planet is a large space body which reflects the light of a star around which it revolves. The planets in our solar system are classified as inner planets and outer planets. The inner planets, the closest to the Sun, are solid spheres of rock and include Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. The inner planets were constantly bombarded by asteroids and meteorites during their first 600 million years in existence. Consequently, you will find craters of varying sizes on the inner planets and their satellites. The outer planets are large gaseous spheres with rings and include Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Between the inner and outer planets is an asteroid belt. Every planet, except for Earth, was named for an ancient Roman god or goddess. Some of the planets have naturally occurring satellites, or moons, while others do not. All eight planets orbit the Sun in their own unique way.
Since 1992, astronomers have catalogued objects in a disk-shaped region beyond the orbit of Neptune called the Kuiper Belt. It was slowly realized that Pluto, considered the ninth planet since its discovery in 1930, was actually a member of the Kuiper Belt. Several objects similar in size and composition to Pluto have now been identified there, causing astronomers to create a new class of objects, dwarf planet, for them.
The Inner Planets:
Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
The Outer Planets :
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
Dwarf Planets:
Pluto
Consideration OF PLANET X WAS DROPPED TOO BECAUSE IT WAS A LOT FARTHER INSIDE AND BELONGED TO THE MID-KUIPER BELT.
Asteroids like Ceres were also dropped from the discussions held by IAU.
2006-12-20 08:28:45 · answer #2 · answered by Som™ 6 · 2⤊ 1⤋
There are 8 major planets and several dwarf planets which includes Pluto. The new planet that has been mentioned has not been confirmed as a major or dwarf planet however it does appear to be larger than Pluto.
2006-12-20 08:41:42 · answer #3 · answered by Tuppence 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There is the same number of planets as before in our solar system. Yet, depends of what you think about Pluto which always was considered as an erratic planet. It is hard to change our mind about it and what are the scientist going to say next to change our minds. Merry Christmas.
2006-12-20 08:48:59 · answer #4 · answered by Nicolette 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No asteroids have been upgraded to planets. Only Pluto was downgraded to a dwarf planet, so now there are 8 major planets.
2006-12-20 08:32:00 · answer #5 · answered by hznfrst 6 · 3⤊ 1⤋
8
2006-12-20 08:31:07 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 2⤋
In our solar System there are 7 Planets there were 8 but they dropped the planet Pluto because it is so small. but out there beyond the milky Way! There are billions and Billions of Planets from dwarf planets to the super Giant Planets.
2006-12-20 09:52:26 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
You have plenty of answers but I have to say, what does it matter? Does it matter at all if Pluto is a planet or a rock or a moon. Come on, think about it. Do we really care?
2006-12-20 08:51:48 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are 8 planets now. The other "planets" they found like Pluto are called dwarf planets.
2006-12-20 08:41:29 · answer #9 · answered by gtarplyr98 1 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Eight. Here's the 'official' definition from the IAU (Wikipedia reports it accurately)
There are a number of astronomers still petitioning to redefine a planet once again and refuse to use the new definition, but, at least for now, and probably for some time to come, there are officially eight planets.
2006-12-20 09:32:48 · answer #10 · answered by Bob G 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋