Pluto Classification Debate

 Pluto is a dwarf planet located in our solar system. It was

once considered the ninth planet, but its classification changed in 2006 when the International Astronomical Union (IAU) redefined the definition of a planet.

Pluto was discovered by astronomer Clyde Tombaugh in 1930. It orbits the Sun in an eccentric and inclined path that takes it much farther from the Sun than any of the eight planets

Due to its distance and small size, Pluto remained a mysterious and relatively unexplored object until the New Horizons spacecraft visited it in 2015.

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After studying Pluto up close, scientists determined that it does not meet the IAU's criteria for a planet. According to the IAU definition, a planet must orbit the Sun, be spherical in shape, and have cleared its orbit of other debris. Pluto shares its orbit with other objects in the Kuiper Belt, a region of small icy bodies beyond Neptune, and it did not clear its orbit of these objects. bR3FV/0.Pt3tpGvwbbmpVfJOZCDz0h1iN/jOIj3xN_z/Ih4mLgTZUx2LM_jkcX3qMajYkK Therefore, Pluto was

reclassified as a dwarf planet.

However, despite losing its planetary status, Pluto continues to captivate scientists and the public alike. Its surface features include icy mountains, plains, and a thin atmosphere composed mostly of nitrogen, with traces of methane and carbon monoxide. The New Horizons mission provided valuable data about Pluto's geology, atmosphere, and composition.

The reclassification of Pluto sparked debates among astronomers and the general public, with some advocating for its reinstatement as a planet. Nevertheless, as of my knowledge cutoff in September 2021, Pluto is officially recognized as a dwarf planet within our solar system.