Do you agree with this decision? Why or Why not?
2007-03-28 13:36:22 · 6 answers · asked by Rachel S 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
The International Astronomical Union decided that Pluto was no longer a planet. The reason is that while Pluto is round, orbits the sun, and has three moons, it has not cleared (via gravity) its own orbit of debris. Instead, they decided to classify it as a "dwarf planet".
See the details below.
RESOLUTION 5A
The IAU therefore resolves that "planets" and other bodies in our Solar System, except satellites, be defined into three distinct categories in the following way:
(1) A "planet" [footnote 1] is a celestial body that (a) is in orbit around the Sun, (b) has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round) shape, and (c) has cleared the neighbourhood around its orbit.
(2) A "dwarf planet" is a celestial body that (a) is in orbit around the Sun, (b) has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round) shape [footnote 2] , (c) has not cleared the neighbourhood around its orbit, and (d) is not a satellite.
(3) All other objects [footnote 3] except satellites orbiting the Sun shall be referred to collectively as "Small Solar-System Bodies".
Footnote 1: The eight "planets" are: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
Footnote 2: An IAU process will be established to assign borderline objects into either dwarf planet and other categories.
Footnote 3: These currently include most of the Solar System asteroids, most Trans-Neptunian Objects (TNOs), comets, and other small bodies.
RESOLUTION 6A
The IAU further resolves:
Pluto is a "dwarf planet" by the above definition and is recognized as the prototype of a new category of trans-Neptunian objects.
2007-03-28 15:21:02 · answer #1 · answered by Otis F 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The main reason that Pluto got demoted was due to the Ort Cloud. We have started to find objects in the Ort Cloud that are as large and larger than Pluto. If Pluto was to remain a planet we were looking at having several hundred new planets in the near future. It was decided that Pluto was just a member of the Ort Cloud group whose orbit happens to be near our solar system. the highly inclined orbit also shows that Pluto belongs with the Ort Cloud and not the solar system.
2007-03-28 20:50:26 · answer #2 · answered by MSG 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I know why Pluto is not a planet because it does not have its own orbit it travels inside another planets orbit.
2007-03-28 20:41:28 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They found out that it was just a big rock in the Kuiper belt.
2007-03-28 20:47:47 · answer #4 · answered by Toccata 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
'Cause Pluto Was Bad.
2007-03-28 20:53:37 · answer #5 · answered by ur_main_man2 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
it is a giant rock, not a planet.
finally the truth comes out. im glad this happened
2007-03-28 20:47:08 · answer #6 · answered by Kabizzle 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋