Pluto has officially been booted out of the Solar System after a Czech conference determined the ex-planet falls outside of the official specifications.

The 26th General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) has declared finally after a long week that Pluto, after it’s 1930 discovery, has been deemed to be not a “planet” after all..

According to the new ruling, Pluto will be refered to as a “Dwarf Planet” because it’s orbit crosses Neptune’s. Below is the definition for a Planet, a Dwarf Planet and Small Solar System Bodies (comets and asteroids and the like.)

(1) A planet is a celestial body that (a) is in orbit around the Sun, (b) has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round) shape, and (c) has cleared the neighbourhood around its orbit.

(2) A dwarf planet is a celestial body that (a) is in orbit around the Sun, (b) has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round) shape, (c) has not cleared the neighbourhood around its orbit, and (d) is not a satellite.

(3) All other objects orbiting the Sun shall be referred to collectively as “Small Solar System Bodies”.

It’s not all that surprising to me though, everyone knows pluto’s a dog.

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Posted in Science by Paul Godden View Comments