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The planets closest to the Sun: Mercury, Venus Earth and Mars are composed of rock. The planets beyond the asteroid belt Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are made up of gases. Pluto is composed of rock and ice.
Also, it has an elliptical orbit and at times crosses Neptune's path. There are periods of up to 20 years where it was the 8th body orbiting the Sun and Neptune 9th. (That is, if you do not count Ceres which is located in the asteroid belt) This leads scientists to believe it is an asteroid and part of the Kuiper belt.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Wiki User
∙ 14y agobecause, unlike planets, Pluto's orbit is oval and it is comprised of ice, not dirt and rock. 3 other "planets" like Pluto have been discovered in the outreach of the solar system and they are not called planets.
Wiki User
∙ 12y agoThe definition of what a "planet" is was up to interpretation at the time.
As of August 24th, 2006, the IAU (International Astronomical Union) redefined it, and as a result put Pluto in the new category of "Dwarf Planets", together with Ceres and Eris (formerly Xena), which are similar enough to deserve identical status, which would've put us up to 12 planets, instead of down to 8.
The difference between a dwarf planet and a planet being that a dwarf planet has not cleared the area of its orbital path, and a planet has.
The mere fact that this decision was necessary proves that the scientific community is at odds about whether or not these 3 dwarf planets are to be considered planets or not.
In effect, it all points to the answer that the only reason these scientists want Pluto to be a planet, is because it always has been. They don't want that to change.
So in short... Conservatism?
((Above conclusion possibly improvable.))
Wiki User
∙ 10y agoPluto is not considered an asteroid, it is considered a dwarf planet. Dwarf planets are generally larger than asteroids, although the largest asteroid, Ceres, also qualifies as a dwarf planet.
The category of dwarf planet was introduced because it turns out that there are a number of relatively small objects in the outer system, of which Pluto is not the largest, and it seemed inappropriate to award the status of planet to all of them, and equally well, inconsistent to award the status of planet only to Pluto of that group of objects.
Wiki User
∙ 6y agoPeople who still consider Pluto a planet disagree with the IAU's new definition of Planet. However, it's interesting to note that most of these same people do not accept the other dwarf planets (Ceres, Haumea, Makemake, and Eris) as planets, even though most of them are larger than Pluto.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoPluto is no longer a planet because it's moon is bigger than itself. It's consider a dwarf planet. Therefore only 8 planets are left in the solar system.
Wiki User
∙ 6y agoVirtually all astronomers don't consider Pluto a planet, because Pluto is not a planet. It hasn't cleared its neighborhood.
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What do Pluto and asteroids have in common?
Planets and asteroids follow a path that takes them around the orbit of a body with greater gravity than their own. They are also both remnants of when the solar system was first formed.
Which planet used to be a planet but is not now?
Ceirus & Riris they are actually asteroids. Also, we thought Pluto was a planet, but it was actually a dwarf planet.
What comet passes by Pluto?
Pluto is at the inner edge of the Kuiper belt, which is similar to the asteroid belt but with comets instead of asteroids. Therefore, millions of comets pass by Pluto.
Is Pluto part of the solar system?
Yes. Pluto may no longer be considered a major planet but it is still part of the Solar System! The Solar System includes the Sun, planets, dwarf planets (including Pluto), moons, asteroids, comets, centaurs, trans-Neptunian objects and interplanetary dust particles amongst other things: basically the Sun and everything that orbits around it. Pluto orbits the Sun, so it's still part of the Solar System.
What factors make Pluto different from the major planets?
There is only one factor that makes Pluto different from major planets:Pluto has not cleared its "neighborhood" of asteroids and debris.
Which is farther from the earth asteroids or Pluto?
Pluto.
Why was Pluto decided to be a dwarf planet at last?
it's because that they were asteroids that was bigger then Pluto so it was hard to find out which is Pluto and which are the asteroids
What does Pluto not have that planets do?
Pluto does not have an orbit clear of asteroids and debris. Planets do.
What does Pluto have that planets don't?
Pluto has asteroids in its orbital path. Planets don't.
How is Pluto not like the 4 inner planets?
Pluto is different from the inner planets in that it has not cleared it's orbit from asteroids.
Are asteroids considered planets?
No Asteroids are too small to be considered planets.
What do Pluto and asteroids have in common?
Planets and asteroids follow a path that takes them around the orbit of a body with greater gravity than their own. They are also both remnants of when the solar system was first formed.
Which planet used to be a planet but is not now?
Ceirus & Riris they are actually asteroids. Also, we thought Pluto was a planet, but it was actually a dwarf planet.
What are asteroids considered to be if not considered a planet or dwarf planet?
Asteroids are their own class of object.
What comet passes by Pluto?
Pluto is at the inner edge of the Kuiper belt, which is similar to the asteroid belt but with comets instead of asteroids. Therefore, millions of comets pass by Pluto.
Are Asteroids like little planets?
yes it almost looks like Pluto
Is Pluto part of the solar system?
Yes. Pluto may no longer be considered a major planet but it is still part of the Solar System! The Solar System includes the Sun, planets, dwarf planets (including Pluto), moons, asteroids, comets, centaurs, trans-Neptunian objects and interplanetary dust particles amongst other things: basically the Sun and everything that orbits around it. Pluto orbits the Sun, so it's still part of the Solar System.
