2007-01-27 13:43:58 · 9 answers · asked by Yousaf 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Pluto is still a member of the Solar system, just no longer considered a planet. In the quest of trying to define what a planet is, Pluto's situation did not seem to fit that definition any more.
It still benefits from being the first Kuiper belt object ever found.
2007-01-27 13:52:40 · answer #1 · answered by Shaula 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I hate when people keep saying that Pluto is no longer a planet. It is a DWARF PLANET. See the word PLANET?!? It's just a different KIND of planet now, like a gas planet is different from a rocky planet.
Pluto is the first in a group that has been separated from the larger planets by a classification change, sometimes called the Plutonians because of Pluto's being the first one. The problem was that astronomers were finding more things that were too big to be asteroids, though with some important differences from the bigger planets.
The definition of a planet:
1) must orbit the star (not be a moon of another planet)
2) must have sufficient mass that it's gravity pulls it into a sphere (must be round)
3) must have cleared the area immediately around it of debris (asteroids and comets)
the real deciding factor for the Plutonians is the third rule--the plutonians seem to just be really big asteroids and comets that happen to be round, though they are still part of belt systems.
Pluto is most certainly still part of the solar system. It hasn't gone anywhere.
2007-01-27 22:00:52 · answer #2 · answered by ~XenoFluX 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
According to the new definition, a full-fledged planet is an object that orbits the sun and is large enough to have become round due to the force of its own gravity. In addition, a planet has to dominate the neighborhood around its orbit.
Pluto has been demoted because it does not dominate its neighborhood.
Pluto is now dubbed a "dwarf planet" But is no longer part of the exclusive club, since there are more than 40 of these dwarf planets found and scientists believe they will find hundreds in time to come.
2007-01-27 22:47:02 · answer #3 · answered by Truth D 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Pluto has always been considered an unusual planet. Astronomers took it off the list because they realized they would be discovering a lot more strange "planets" farther out. So they made a new category for Kuiper Belt objects.
2007-01-27 22:49:24 · answer #4 · answered by skepsis 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
what's poloto? is that like pilates? Pluto is no longer considered a planet because if they continued to consider it to be so our solar system would include several hundred (if not thousand...maybe even million) objects in the kuiper belt.
2007-01-27 23:02:39 · answer #5 · answered by symetrist 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pluto was recently decided by astronomers to not fit the definition of a planet (considering that it is smaller than some moons).
2007-01-27 21:53:01 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pluto is now classified as a Dwarf Planet because of its size and the fact that it has a highly elliptical orbit.
2007-01-27 22:19:42 · answer #7 · answered by shrabikhababi 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's not a planet 'cuz all of a send it wasn't under the definition of a planet.
2007-01-27 21:51:48 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because it doesn't fit the definition of a planet.
Doug
2007-01-27 21:50:25 · answer #9 · answered by doug_donaghue 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋