World of Planets?

Question

Why is Pluto NO LONGER a planet?

So, we now have 8 planets NOT 9?

Answer 1

They are correct in stating that Pluto is no longer a planet. However, it has been reassigned the title of dwarf (or minor) planet. It is correct that Pluto has an erratic orbit, but the winning argument was that there are many objects similar in property to Pluto in a nearby field of large bodies called the Kuiper Belt.

With that definition, since there are objects similar, if not larger in size, to Pluto, rather than adding new planets to our Solar System everytime a discovery of such an object was made (which, there will be plenty to come, as one was just made recently) it made more sense to just demote Pluto.

Don't think, however, this decision came without it's scrutiny and resistence. It took many scientists on the global "board of directors" long deliberation and majority vote to come to the conclusion.

But, as a student of the old school of Astronomy, I will indeed miss that mishievious dog, Pluto.

~jaz~

Answer 2

Astronomers have discovered countless planetoid type objects in space resembling pluto in size and orbit. The orbit of Pluto is also very eccentric, similar to a comet and it does't quite lie on the same orbital plane as the rest of the planets.
So instead of calling all these planetoid objects planets they simply just took Pluto off the list. Hope this helps.

Answer 3

they deciders decided it was not big enough to be a planet.

Answer 4

Right.