On this day in 2006, Pluto was demoted from an official planet in our solar system to a dwarf planet. And I recall a lot of us crying foul about that.
Do you think that Pluto should regain it’s planet status? Or do you just pretend that the ruling never happened and still regard it as a planet?
Pluto is a planet. Dwarf or not, not a primary orbiting body or not. It’s still our baby planet to me.
The debate over Pluto’s planetary status is both scientific and sentimental! Here’s a quick breakdown:
🔭 Scientifically, Pluto was reclassified in 2006 by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) as a dwarf planet because it:
· Orbits the Sun ✅
· Is round due to gravity ✅
· But has not cleared its orbital neighborhood of other debris ❌
That third rule is what bumped Pluto out of the “planet” club.
❤️ Culturally, many people still love Pluto and want it back as a planet — it’s nostalgic and feels like an underdog story.
Thanks for your insight, Kelvin! I know it’s technically out for that reason, but it’s still part of the solar system nonetheless, so I say they at least make it a honorary member or something!