2007-02-19 22:21:53 · 5 answers · asked by elorapicson 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
When Pluto was first discovered it was thought by some to be bigger than the Earth. Since then better measurements have shown it to be much, much smaller. Recently more objects about the same size have been found. They were really too small to be called planets but since they were around the same size as Pluto, either they had to be called planets or Pluto had to be demoted to be consistent. At the recent meeting of the International Astronomical Union the non-unanimous vote was that it was no longer to be called a planet.
Scientists reclassify things all the time as better information comes in. Usually they reclassify bacteria, plants or sometimes animals or rocks. This almost never makes the news even though it is more likely to be important to us because these things are here on Earth. Pluto is a very long way away and as recently as 1929 nobody even knew it was there.
http://www.iau.org/
2007-02-19 23:46:45 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pluto is not considered a "Planet" it's considered a "Dwarf Planet".
It is more of a Kuiper Belt Object. Another Asteroid field outside of the solar system followed by the Oort Cloud. Astronomers have found Rocks (Asteroids) bigger than Pluto in the Kuiper Belt that have their own moon system. So Pluto is no longer a planet. I do not know of any sources for pluto no being a planet (in other words a Dwarf Planet).
2007-02-20 09:27:15 · answer #2 · answered by T-Bob Squarepants 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No Pluto is no longer considered a planet. The best place to get more information is probably Wikipedia or any internet news sight, as it was only down graded from planet status recently.
2007-02-20 06:33:54 · answer #3 · answered by Bethe W 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
no the pluto is no longer considered a planet... it is now considered as a comet since comets still do follow and orbit. so no pluto is nolonger considered as a planet...
i am very sorry... i do not have any sources. i just knew it from my science teacher. mdm.Iradel
2007-02-20 06:26:14 · answer #4 · answered by PcH 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
pluto is now a dwarf planetoid (not a comet). you can go to planetary.org for info on the solar system.
2007-02-21 19:32:51 · answer #5 · answered by Tim C 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋