2007-02-11 22:54:36 · 10 answers · asked by klyn-klyn 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
Pluto has not been excluded from the solar system, it can't be. The solar system includes all of the bodies orbiting the Sun including Kuiper Belt objects, the Oort cloud and comets. Pluto is well inside the solar system.
The problem is that our knowledge of the solar system is increasing and new discoveries are being made. Objects larger than Pluto have been discovered further out in the Kuiper belt and a discussion was held recently to decide whether these should be listed as planets and, if not, what should be done about Pluto.
They chickened out and decided to restrict planets to eight and reclass Pluto as a dwarf planet along with the asteroid Ceres and the new objects. It would have been more fun to include the new bodies as planets.
2007-02-12 00:35:31 · answer #1 · answered by tentofield 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pluto is not excluded from the Solar System. The IAU last year defined "planet" in astronomy and, according to this definition, Pluto is not a planet. It is too small for a planet but too big to be an asteroid; so astronomers are calling Pluto a dwarf planet.
2007-02-15 16:54:49 · answer #2 · answered by Tenebra98 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Under the alternative proposal the current solar system would have remained unchanged, but Pluto would have been demoted to a dwarf planet.
2007-02-12 06:57:17 · answer #3 · answered by Stars-Moon-Sun 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The question of whether Pluto is or is not a planet is very popular among the public. However, most professional astronomers do not think this is a question of that much importance...
2007-02-12 07:12:03 · answer #4 · answered by Sporadic 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it was not excluded ,it was declassified as a planet, it still is a member of the solar system
2007-02-12 22:54:18 · answer #5 · answered by blinkky winkky 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because it was a troublemaker. Constantly cutting inside the orbit of Neptune and causing gross gravitational anomalies in the orbit of Uranus and it's ring system.
People just finally got tired of that sh|t and they threw Pluto out of the planetary club.
End of story.
Doug
2007-02-12 07:02:13 · answer #6 · answered by doug_donaghue 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It's too small in size to be in a planet. But mostly because it has an orbit that isn't circular but more like an oval.
2007-02-12 07:29:44 · answer #7 · answered by m13 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It was decided that the definition of a planet necessarily excluded Pluto
See, for more info:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14489259/
2007-02-12 06:57:08 · answer #8 · answered by Mictlan_KISS 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Technically, it is not excluded, but no longer considered a planet. How they can just arbitrarily decide it is no longer a planet is beyond me. Who really cares anyway?
2007-02-12 06:58:37 · answer #9 · answered by tootall1121 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
scientists decided it was to small to be known as a planet.
2007-02-12 07:03:01 · answer #10 · answered by kotton kandy 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋