2007-01-10 09:19:22 · 10 answers · asked by afall 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Initially when Pluto was first discovered it was a remarkable discovery back then. So they included it in the list of planets.
Now however with discovery of many similar planet-like objects in space due to better observation techniques Pluto is no longer considered a planet because of the following reasons:
1. Highly eccentric orbit.
2. is as big as it's moon.
3. has a small mass
4. the presence of a number of similar sized objects beyond the solar system would make the list of planets endless and the issue of naming a planet a big problem.
2007-01-10 09:30:10 · answer #1 · answered by rohit_tag8000 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just a reply to Ash above, who wonders why Pluto is hard to see while astronomers can see distant galaxies.
For a start professional astonomers have no trouble seeing Pluto. Amateurs with telescopes above 10 inches will see Pluto.
secondly, pluto is just a few thousand kms across.
Galaxies are 10's of thousands of light years across.
each light year equates to 10 Trillion kms, so galaxies are TRILLIONS of times the size of Pluto.
You might as well ask why you can't see a 10c coin at 500 miles away, while you can see the moon at 240,000 miles.
It's a matter of scale, and Ash and many others have not got a mind that can appreciate scale.
2007-01-10 10:43:16 · answer #2 · answered by nick s 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi. Assuming you are serious, Pluto has a very elliptical orbit and is now getting farther away. This may make it more difficult to see in a small telescope.
2007-01-10 09:23:18 · answer #3 · answered by Cirric 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't understand how astronomers have a hard time seeing Pluto through a telescope if it is in our own solar system, yet they can see far away galaxies through a telescope.
2007-01-10 09:56:04 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I just got demoted to a classification less than a planet. It got "plutoed" ('06 word of the year: to "Pluto" = to demote or devalue someone or somethng)
2007-01-10 10:04:20 · answer #5 · answered by whm 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It got pissed off that scientists decided it was not a planet, so it went in search of a solar system that would treat it with more respect.
2007-01-10 09:59:59 · answer #6 · answered by Leonardo D 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
pluto is too small so they dont consider it a planet
2007-01-10 09:22:30 · answer #7 · answered by greenpotterboy 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
global warming; the entire planet melted. I blame the liberals.
2007-01-10 09:23:41 · answer #8 · answered by bequalming 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's not gone, just reclassified.
2007-01-10 09:43:03 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
george bush thought it was stock piling WMD's and so preemptively destroyed it.
2007-01-10 09:32:48 · answer #10 · answered by Jake S 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋