Is Pluto a planet or just a small asteroid?

Answer 1

The International Astronomers Union has officially demoted Pluto to the new status of Dwarf Plant.

Answer 2

Pluto is "inbetween" in size, hence the new category was created, as it was felt to be neither the one nor the other.

Pluto is larger than all the asteroids (in the main asteroid belt lying between Mars and Jupiter) (98.5% of all the asteroids are in that region of the Solar System),

Pluto is smaller than the largest moon of Saturn (Titan), the four largest moons of Jupiter (Ganymede, Callisto, Io and Europa) the largest moon of Neptune (Triton) and our own Moon

Pluto is the largest object in the Kuiper Belt lying beyond the orbit of Neptune.

Pluto is a little smaller than Eris, which is the largest object in the Scattered Disk, lying beyond the Kuiper Belt,

The largest 30 objects in the Solar System in descending order of radius (in kilometres) are:

1 Sun 696,000
2 Jupiter 69,911
3 Saturn 58,232
4 Uranus 25,362
5 Neptune 24,622
6 Earth 6,371.0
7 Venus 6,051.8
8 Mars 3,390.0
9 Ganymede 2,631.2
10 Titan 2,575
11 Mercury 2,439.7
12 Callisto 2,410.3
13 Io 1,821.5
14 The Moon 1,737.1
15 Europa 1561
16 Triton 1,353.4
17 Eris 1,200 ±50
18 Pluto 1,153
19 (136472) 2005 FY9 900 ±100
20 Titania 788.9
21 Rhea 764.4
22 Oberon 761.4
23 (136108) 2003 EL61 745
24 90377 Sedna 745 ±155
25 Iapetus 736
26 50000 Quaoar 630 ±95
27 Charon 606
28 Umbriel 584.7
29 Ariel 578.9
30 Dione 561.6

Pluto is 18th and Charon 27th. The largest asteroid. Ceres is 33rd and the next two largest (Pallas and Vesta) are 60th and 61st. For the full list, see the link below:

Plainly TNOs are larger, in general, than Main Belt Asteroids.

Answer 3

(IPA: /ˈplu.toʊ/), also designated 134340 Pluto, is the second-largest known dwarf planet in the Solar System and the tenth-largest body observed directly orbiting the Sun. Originally considered a planet, Pluto has since been recognised as the largest member of a distinct region called the Kuiper belt. Like other members of the belt, it is primarily composed of rock and ice and is relatively small; approximately a fifth the mass of the Earth's Moon and a third its volume. It has an eccentric orbit that takes it from 29 to 49 AU (4.3–7.3 billion km / 2.7-4.5 billion mi) from the Sun, and is highly inclined with respect to the planets. As a result, Pluto occasionally comes closer to the Sun than the planet Neptune.

Pluto and its largest satellite, Charon, are often considered a binary system because the barycentre of their orbits does not lie within either body.[3] However, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) has yet to formalise a definition for binary dwarf planets, and until it passes such a ruling, Charon remains a moon of Pluto.[4] Pluto has two smaller moons, Nix and Hydra, discovered in 2005.From the time of its discovery in 1930 until 2006, Pluto was considered the Solar System's ninth planet. In the late 20th and early 21st centuries however, many objects similar to Pluto were discovered in the outer solar system, most notably the scattered disc object Eris, which is slightly larger than Pluto. On August 24, 2006 the IAU defined the term "planet" for the first time. This definition excluded Pluto from planethood, and reclassified it under the new category of dwarf planet along with Eris and Ceres.[6] After the reclassification, Pluto was added to the list of minor planets and given the number 134340.

Answer 4

It is a small asteroid. There are two new planets that take the place of Pluto but I forgot their names.

Answer 5

It is a dwarf planet. Astronomers made up the new category "dwarf planet" instead of just demoting Pluto to asteroid because of the public outcry against taking away its planet status.

Answer 6

Pluto, additionally exact 13a87ff679a2f3e71d9181a67b7542122c3a87ff679a2f3e71d9181a67b7542122c0 Pluto, is the 2nd-greatest accepted dwarf planet interior the photograph voltaic equipment and the 10th-greatest physique reported at as quickly as orbiting the sunlight. initially seen a planet, Pluto has considering that been regarded by using fact the main important member of a special area reported as the Kuiper belt. Like different contributors of the belt, this is mostly composed of rock and ice and is rather small; approximately a 5th the mass of the Earth's Moon and a 0.33 its quantity. It has an eccentric orbit that takes it from 29 to a87ff679a2f3e71d9181a67b7542122c9 AU (4.3–7.3 billion km / 2.7–4.5 billion mi) from the sunlight, and is extremely vulnerable with comprehend to the planets. consequently, Pluto especially situations comes closer to the sunlight than the planet Neptune. Pluto and its greatest satellite tv for pc, Charon, are often seen a binary equipment by using fact the barycentre of their orbits does not lie interior of the two physique. inspite of the shown fact that, the worldwide Astronomical Union (IAU) has yet to formalise a definition for binary dwarf planets, and until it passes one in all those ruling, Charon continues to be a moon of Pluto.[4] Pluto has 2 accepted smaller moons, Nix and Hydra, chanced on in 2005.

Answer 7

A dwarf planet with a lot of tiny rocks all around it. It was considered a planet even though it had an elliptical orbit rather than round and is is oddly shaped rather than spherical.

Answer 8

Pluto was originally a planet, until a few months ago when it was 'removed' (mentally) from our solar system. It is now considered just a massive rock floating on the outskirts of our solar system.

Answer 9

A "dwarf planet." New designation.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pluto

Answer 10

It has to be defined as a planet because it has two moons orbiting it! Any body that has a subset relating to it has to be a planet! With the exception of the Sun of course!