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Question: Why do some scientists consider Pluto to Not Be a Planet?
Answer: Since its discovery in 1930 until 2006, Pluto was considered a planet, just like the others in the Solar System. But in 2005, Caltech researcher Mike Brown announced that he had discovered a new object which was more distant, but larger in the Solar System.
This object was originally named 2003 UB 313, but then was given the official designation of Eris, after the Greek God of strife and discord. It briefly had the nickname Xena - yes, after the TV show.
With the discovery of Eris, astronomers had to reconsider their definition of a planet. Since Eris is larger than Pluto, the number of planets in the Solar System would need to be expanded to 10. And who knows how much larger it would become with future discoveries.
The International Astronomical Union met in Prague in 2006 to make a final decision. They decided that a planet must fulfill three criteria:
- It must orbit the Sun
- It must have enough mass to pull itself into a spherical shape
- It must have cleared out the other objects in its orbit.
It's this 3rd part where Pluto falls down. Pluto has only a fraction of the mass of the rest of the objects in its orbit, while the rest of the planets have essentially cleared theirs out completely. Does Pluto have moons? It does, but even with the mass of its moons, Pluto still doesn't dominate its orbit.
Pluto, Eris and the Asteroid Ceres were given the new designation of "dwarf planet".
I go into this in much more detail with the article, Why is Pluto Not a Planet?
What else can I help you with?
What planets do scientists not consider a major planet?
Scientists do not consider Pluto a major planet due to its size, orbit, and characteristics that differ from the other eight recognized planets in the solar system. Additionally, there are other dwarf planets, such as Eris, Haumea, Makemake, and Ceres, that are not classified as major planets.
What is Pluto's designation?
A dwarf planet, although that designation continues to be disputed by some scientists.
What did scientists do that changed the way you think of Pluto?
ui
Which planet is made of ice and rock?
Pluto, but some consider that Pluto is not a planet anymore.
How can you that Pluto is not a gas giant?
It is small and it doesn't really have gas. Scientists found a meteor bigger than Pluto.
What planet do scientists NOT consider a major planet?
the only planet that scientists do not consider a planet is Pluto, (but they also found new planets in the asteroid belt.)Pluto
Why is Pluto consider a plant anymore?
because they found out that pluto was just a piece of rock that fell off of and plant or asteriod.
Which planet do scientists argue about whether to count as a plant?
poor little Pluto
Where the scientists live in Pluto planet?
No one lives in or on Pluto. No one has visited Pluto.
When did scientist say that Pluto is a dwarf plant?
pluto isnt a plant
Why do scientists say Pluto is usually the ninth planet?
No scientists say that. Scientists know that Pluto is a dwarf planet, and not one of the 8 major planets of our solar system.
Is Pluto a plant?
Pluto is not a planet. It is is a dwarf planet, it was once a plant but sciencetist now say it isnt a plant
What planets do scientists not consider a major planet?
Scientists do not consider Pluto a major planet due to its size, orbit, and characteristics that differ from the other eight recognized planets in the solar system. Additionally, there are other dwarf planets, such as Eris, Haumea, Makemake, and Ceres, that are not classified as major planets.
What planet do scientists know little about?
Pluto
What problems must scientists overcome to make such a visit to Pluto?
The problem is that Pluto is to far, it takes a to long, and there is nothing there at Pluto.
What is Pluto's designation?
A dwarf planet, although that designation continues to be disputed by some scientists.
What planet is still a mystery to scientists?
no Pluto is fully studied and there are no mysteries but there are planets beyond Pluto
