Is it true that "pluto" isn't a planet anymore???

Answer 1

Sad but true. Last August the International
Astronomical Union, the authority in these matters, demoted it. You can console yourself with the knowledge that it is now a "dwarf planet".

Answer 2

Recently, approximately in June of 2006, a group of scientists from NASA confirmed that PLUTO should not be considered a planet. Astronomers now call PLUTO a Dwarf Planet

Answer 3

Pluto has more characteristics of a rocky planet (i.e. Earth or Mars) and a comet than that of an actual planet at that distance from the sun... think about it, Mercury through mars, rocky... jupiter through neptune, gas... pluto, rocky again? Pluto is just another comet, much like many of the other comets around it, such as Planet X (again, a comet, not a planet).

Answer 4

In August the International Astronomical Society reclassified Pluto as a dwarf planet, along with several other objects in that part of the solar system, known as the Kieper belt.

Answer 5

Yeh im afraid it isn't anymore. Instead its been give the groovy name of Dwarf Planet. If you like I can explain why? Its a bit long though, but if you like stick with me. You don't have too :)

Pluto was excluded because scientists were'nt convinced that it deserved the title of planet. The debate has always been going over Pluto's status, but one of the big turning points was the discovery of a body which was larger and further away than Pluto. The body was given the name Eris. So why was it changed hey? First of we have to define what a planet is and also what a dwarf planet is which is what Pluto is now considered to be.

The International Astronomical Union came up with 4 points that have to be met in order for a body to be classified as a dwarf planet:

a) The body must be in orbit around the Sun;
(b) It must have sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round) shape;
(c) It has not cleared the neighbourhood around its orbit; and
(d) is not a satellite

They also agreed on what a body must be to be classified as a planet:

a)The body must be 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.
(c) has cleared the neighbourhood around its orbit.

Pluto's orbit is another factor that made it clear that its status had to be revised. Pluto's orbit is very eccentric, which means that unlike the other planets that follow a near circular path on their way around the sun, Pluto's orbit is highly inclined. This eccentric orbit actually brings it closer to the sun for a subtanial time during its orbit. Pluto takes 248 years to orbit the sun. During 20 of those years its orbit is within that of Neptune.

The discovery of Eris reignited the debate over Pluto's status. Eris is thought to be part of the solar system known as the Keiper belt which is very similar to the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, but is commonly known as a Trans Netunian Object. If Clyde Tombaugh, the man who discovered Pluto in 1930 had known about the Keiper belt it is very unlikely that he would have classified it as a planet.

In my opinion I believe that the reclassification was correct and needed. If Pluto had kept its planet status it could mean in 30 years time when we discover other bodies like Eris (who like Pluto is now a Dwarf planet) we could have a solar system with 20 or 30 planets orbiting the sun.

This is just my humble opinion though :)

Answer 6

man....u guys think its only been a year.....it hasnt been a "planet" for a few years.....but they r still studdying it to see if it is.....but the way i look at is that jupiter might as well not be a planet.....Jupiter is just a big ball of gas....no actual rock in it.....if u flew into Jupiter...u would go strait through....all pluto is....is just a ball of ice....and there are no actual pictures...so give it about another 7 - 10 years and we'll know for sure if Pluto is a planet or not....

Answer 7

Pluto is now not a Planet, but a dwarf planet.

Answer 8

yeah its true pluto isnt a planet anymore

Answer 9

Pluto remains exactly the same as it always was, it's just some people decided to reclassify it. It doesn't matter a jot to Plutonians, who are oblivious of all the fuss about their home down here on earth.


... and to Breezy - NO ONE thinks it is a star honey. Yeah, I know star appear to be tiny, but believe me, when you get up close to them, they are BIG and mighty warm in summer.

Answer 10

pluto is not considerd a planet anymore but for those of us who are older it will always be the planet pluto..