The sad truth is if we classified Pluto as a planet then we would have to call anything of equal size or larger a planet. There are 5 officially recognised dwarf planets in our solar system, they are Ceres, Pluto, Haumea, Makemake and Eris. With the exception of Ceres, which is located in the asteroid belt, all the other dwarf planets are found in the Kuiper Belt. and that is just the ones that we know about.
Its orbit also played a large role in its classification. Just because it's called a dwarf planet doesn't mean size is the only reason for is declassification.
Although orbiting a fixed star is one of the three prerequisites a celestial body has to meet to be considered a planet, this isn't the reason why Pluto lost this status (it obviously does orbit a fixed star, namely the sun). The other two are the so-called hydrostatic equilibrium, which means it has to have a round shape and that it has to have cleared its orbit from other celestial bodies such as asteroids et cetera. Deciding was indeed only the last point.
Well, in less scientific terms this would make a lot of sense. Dwarf planets (or Pluto in particular, really), I guess, could be seen by our generation as a child and with that we can make connections with ourselves. It is as if Pluto, a child is being denied their right to be human, or something like that. That's what I got from it, anyway.
Have a nice day. :)
I just Google the quote I use for Pluto and two of my posts here on FS turned up:
http://m.funsubstance.com/fun/96538/silly-pluto/ http://m.funsubstance.com/fun/86462/wrath-of-the-underworld/
Planetary classification is as follows:
• Is in orbit around a star.
• Sufficient mass to achieve hydrostatic equilibrium. (It's gravity makes it nearly round.)
• The body has cleared it's orbit of significant debris.
.
It's the third one where Pluto fails.
.
Besides, Pluto is essentially a giant comet caught in a stable long period orbit:
"If you moved it to where Earth is right now, heat from the sun would evaporate the ice and it would grow a tail. That's no kind of behavior for a planet!"
- Dr Neil DeGrasse Tyson.
It is a dwarf planet, you fools. You idiots forgot all the other planets, you discriminatory freaks. You love being on your high horse, just because your planet thinks it can decide who is special and who isn't. It is very nice here on the Noble and Ancient ' dwarf planet' ( to use your slurs) Ceres, and we openly welcome Pluto, which you lot have kicked out. We will soon be renaming it Iris, after the goddess of rainbows.
Have a nice day. :)
http://m.funsubstance.com/fun/96538/silly-pluto/
http://m.funsubstance.com/fun/86462/wrath-of-the-underworld/
Planetary classification is as follows:
• Is in orbit around a star.
• Sufficient mass to achieve hydrostatic equilibrium. (It's gravity makes it nearly round.)
• The body has cleared it's orbit of significant debris.
.
It's the third one where Pluto fails.
.
Besides, Pluto is essentially a giant comet caught in a stable long period orbit:
"If you moved it to where Earth is right now, heat from the sun would evaporate the ice and it would grow a tail. That's no kind of behavior for a planet!"
- Dr Neil DeGrasse Tyson.
PLUTO!
PLUTO!
PLUTO!
Revolt against the Pluto haters!
PLUTO!!!