Ok last time we had ten planets. Somehow now we have 7/8. Are you forgetting Planet X?????????????????
2007-01-06 14:39:57 · 23 answers · asked by haziqikram 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
What everyone else said about Pluto is right.
Planet X is a large hypothetical planet with an orbit beyond that of Neptune. The scientific basis of the Planet X hypothesis was broadly discounted in the early 1990s and today no significant portion of the scientific community believes it to exist.
The "X" mentioned in the name represents an unknown and is pronounced as the letter, as opposed to the Roman numeral for ten. At the time of its conception there were eight known planets in the solar system; its existence, first as a ninth planet, and then from 1930 until its demise as a tenth, was postulated on the basis of apparent discrepancies in the orbits of the gas giants, especially those of Uranus and Neptune. Those discrepancies have largely been resolved by modern measurement, removing the basis for Planet X.
Although Pluto was discovered as a result of the search for Planet X, it is not considered Planet X. Neither is Eris, even though it was at one point considered for reclassification as a planet under a proposal outlined by the International Astronomical Union (see 2006 redefinition of planet).
In popular culture, "Planet X" has become a generic stand-in term for an undiscovered planet in the solar system. Its use by scientists, however, is exclusively in reference to the particular hypothesis discussed below.
2007-01-06 18:16:26 · answer #1 · answered by Jake W 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It was discovered that there are many planets out near Pluto which are about the same size or even larger than Pluto. Instead of adding many more planets they decided it would be easier to redefine the term "planet" and since Pluto didn't fall into the planet category any more many scientists have begun to disregard it as a planet.
2007-01-06 22:43:26 · answer #2 · answered by Jack T 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pluto is no longer considered a planet, because it does not fit the definition of a planet-- it does not orbit the sun like the other planets and it is too small to be considered a planet.
2007-01-06 22:43:38 · answer #3 · answered by j 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The recent astonomical conference in prague determined that pluto is too small to be considered a planet and should be considered a "dwarf planet"/or an asteroid that has become caught in orbit. so there are now only 8 "true" planets
2007-01-06 22:44:02 · answer #4 · answered by jdog33 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The scientists agreed that for a celestial body to qualify as a planet:
* it must be in orbit around the Sun
* it must be large enough that it takes on a nearly round shape
* it has cleared its orbit of other objects
Pluto was automatically disqualified because its highly elliptical orbit overlaps with that of Neptune. It will now join a new category of dwarf planets.
2007-01-06 22:45:20 · answer #5 · answered by Amazing_clarity 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They changed Pluto's definition. So we have 8 actual planets in our solar system. There are plenty of other planets out there.
2007-01-06 22:42:24 · answer #6 · answered by zara01 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pluto was degraded. so now there are 8 planets in our solar system. I don't know about planet x...
2007-01-06 22:43:12 · answer #7 · answered by grant the monkey 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pluto is not a planet anymore because it's too small that's what I heard.
2007-01-06 22:42:50 · answer #8 · answered by classygirl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They say Pluto is not a planet anymore.
2007-01-06 22:42:09 · answer #9 · answered by conundrum_dragon 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because pluto doesnt meet all the expectations distinguishing an astoid from a planet.
2007-01-06 22:48:08 · answer #10 · answered by Liza 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋