Do you agree that pluto is not a planet as scientists believe?

Question

I have absolutly no idea what to think, so I am hoping that someone can guide me into a system of thinking so that I can draw my own conclusion?

Answer 1

Yes. I agree with the IAU that Pluto should not be classified as a planet.

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) the neighborhood of its own orbit of debris. Instead, they decided to classify it as a "dwarf planet".

There is a precedent for this. When Ceres was first discovered in 1801, it was considered to be a planet. After astronomers discovered several other objects in the same orbit, it was reclassified as an asteroid. And, in 2006, it was again reclassified as "dwarf planet" just like Pluto.

Neither Ceres nor Pluto have enough mass (gravity) to accrete all the junk from their orbits. They will be "dwarf planets" until we humans decide otherwise.

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.

Answer 2

what makes a planet? good question. In my mind the whole controversy is much ado about nothing. does it really matter whether or not Pluto is called a planet or just a big rock orbitting the Sun....and whats the real difference? since its discovery pluto has been known as a planet. people who want to change that pretty much want to change what its called for the sake of changing what its called. since there is no real clear definition of what makes a planet a planet then there is no harm in referring to pluto as a planet..it haqs a moon and everything. on the other hand if you really are passionate about there only being eight planets around the sun then (get a life, joking) then don't call it a planet. its there and it has a name that everyone knows whether its a planet or not. I like the idea of keeping it a planet because aestetically its nicer having nine planets instead of eight...and its what i learned as a kid

Answer 3

The international planetary society defines what a "planet" is. In our solar system, if one were to consider Pluto a planet, than one has to accept many other objects as planets and it would have become a real mess. One of the definitions set by this society, that the planet dominate it's own orbit, eliminated Pluto, because it crosses paths with Neptune, which is one of the gas giants.

Answer 4

Do you agree that Bush is the president? Is the same: The astronomers meet to agree about how to classify stars, galaxies, planets, small planets, satellites, etc. They analyze and vote to approve some definitions. So Pluto was elected as a dwarf planet.

Answer 5

It's not a matter of belief. We now have a good definition of planet, and Pluto does not fit in that definition. Therefore, it's not a planet. End of story.

Answer 6

No, I think it is a Planet... What about U??

Answer 7

4 me yes


because it is too small.that we cannot see it....