why did Pluto not a planet? Related: Worksheet: The Earth in the Sola...
Pluto was originally classified as a planet when it was discovered in 1930, but it was later reclassified as a "dwarf planet" in 2006. This change in classification was made by the International Astronomical Union (IAU), the organization responsible for naming celestial bodies and determining their classification.
The IAU defined a planet as a celestial body that orbits the sun, is spherical in shape, and has cleared its orbit of other objects. According to this definition, Pluto does not meet the criteria for being a planet because it does not meet the third requirement. Pluto shares its orbit with other objects in the Kuiper Belt, a region of small, icy objects beyond Neptune's orbit. As a result, it has not cleared its orbit of other objects and is not considered a planet.
Despite this change in classification, Pluto remains an important and interesting object in the solar system and is still studied by astronomers and other scientists. It is the largest known object in the Kuiper Belt and is thought to be composed of rock and ice. It has a highly elliptical orbit that takes it far beyond Neptune at its farthest point and closer to the sun than Neptune at its closest point. It also has five known moons and a thin atmosphere that expands and contracts with its distance from the sun.
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why did Pluto not a planet? Related: Worksheet: The Earth in the Sola...
Why Pluto is not a Planet?
Pluto was considered the ninth planet in our solar system until 2006 when the International Astronomical Union redefined the criteria for what constitutes a planet. Here are the reasons why Pluto is no longer classified as a planet:
Size and Mass
- Pluto is much smaller and less massive than the other planets in our solar system. It is only about two-thirds the size of Earth's moon.
- Its small size and low mass mean that Pluto does not have enough gravitational force to clear its orbit of other debris, which is one of the criteria for being classified as a planet.
Orbit
- Pluto's orbit is more elliptical and tilted compared to the eight planets in our solar system. It crosses the orbit of Neptune at times, which is another reason why it does not meet the criteria for a planet.
Composition
- Pluto is composed primarily of ice and rock, unlike the gas giants and terrestrial planets that make up the rest of our solar system. Its composition is more similar to that of objects in the Kuiper Belt, a region beyond Neptune where many icy bodies are found.
Conclusion
- Due to its small size, unusual orbit, and composition, Pluto was reclassified as a "dwarf planet" in 2006. This new classification reflects its unique characteristics that set it apart from the other planets in our solar system.
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