Mar 28th, 2008 | Space survey

Do you think we should still consider Pluto as a planet?


Once known as the smallest, coldest, and most distant planet from the Sun, Pluto has a dual identity, not to mention being enshrouded in controversy since its discovery in 1930. On August 24, 2006, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) formally downgraded Pluto from an official planet to a dwarf planet. According to the new rules a planet meets three criteria: it must orbit the Sun, it must be big enough for gravity to squash it into a round ball, and it must have cleared other things out of the way in its orbital neighborhood. The latter measure knocks out Pluto and 2003UB313 (Eris), which orbit among the icy wrecks of the Kuiper Belt, and Ceres, which is in the asteroid belt.

(1) A "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, and (c) has cleared the neighborhood 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, (c) has not cleared the neighborhood around its orbit, and (d) is not a satellite.

(3) All other objects except satellites orbiting the Sun shall be referred to collectively as "Small Solar-System Bodies".


Do you think we should still consider Pluto as a planet?


58 votes, 261 views , 5 comments
 
 
Poll tags:Space, Solar System, Planets, Pluto

 
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Comments (5)
Kengarnett
(Reply)
Arizona, United States

posted Mar 29th, 2008 at 12:04 CDT

How else will: My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Nine Pies

Bmccue7
(Reply)
Georgia, United States

posted Mar 29th, 2008 at 07:33 CDT

Here's a funny thing. The State Legistature of New Mexico wants Pluto to be a planet when it passes over that State's skies. That's a funny image for me: Pluto moving along in it's orbit; it's not a planet - it IS a planet - it's not a planet - it IS a planet... and so on.

Enjoylife
(Reply)
Fiji

posted Mar 28th, 2008 at 23:00 CDT

hahaha poor Pluto...

Buddyicon
(Reply)
New Jersey, United States

posted Mar 28th, 2008 at 22:35 CDT

It would be more like "Prince formally known as an artist". Pluto will always be Pluto.  

Raz
(Reply)
Australia

posted Mar 28th, 2008 at 21:56 CDT

Yes...or it's going to be something like "the artist formerly known as price" and that's just too much to say.

 
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