By definition from a Merriam- Webster Dictionary a planet is “any of the large bodies that revolve around the sun in the solar system which have a similar body to them”. This is not a very specific explanation and makes it hard to fully grasp what it means; at this you could easily say that in fact Pluto a planet. However if you look at a scientific encyclopedia the definition is much different and more specific. The Access Science Encyclopedia says a planet is “A) a celestial body that is in orbit around the sun B) has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it can assume a hydrostatic equilibrium shape C) clears the neighborhood around its orbit”. This explanation is much different and clearer about what qualifies as a planet. If you look at this definition compared to the actual facts about Pluto, is make you believe that Pluto may be a different type of planet. There was a long time no clear definition of what make something a planet. In 2006 the International Astronomical Union created a list of criteria to be used to justify if something is a planet or not. The first on is “A) a planet is a celestial body that is in orbit around the sun B) has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that is assumes a hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round) shape and C)has cleared the neighbourhood around its orbit.” This definition helped determine what a planet is and is not, and also helps show that Pluto is not a planet. It seemed necessary for the IAU to create this list so that it was clear to the astronomers which objects in space and in the solar system could be classified as planets.
Pluto was the 9th and final planet to be discovered, in February 18, 1930. Clyde W. ...
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...es in the Solar System. Solar System Research, 41(2), 174-176. Doi:10.1132/S00038094607020116
Moseman, Andrew. “20 Things You Didn’t Know About Dwarf Planets.” Discover 31.1 (2010): 86 Academic Search Premier.Web. 13 Oct 2013
Wilkinson, John. “The New Solar System.” Teaching Science: The Journal Of The Australian Science Teachers Association 55.4 (2009): 32-35. Academic Search Premier Web. 6 Oct. 2013.
Schibeci, Renato. “Pluto Is A Planet: True Or False?.” Teaching Science: The Journal of The Australian Science Teachers Association 53.1 (2007): 44-45. Academic Search
Tarbuck, Edward J., and Frederick K. Lutgens. “Touring Our Solar System- Dwarf Planets.” Earth Science. 13th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ : Prentice Hall, 199. 660. Print. deGrasse Tyson, Neil. “Astronomy: The Planet That Never Was.” Nature 470.7332 (2011): 34-35. Environment Complete. Web. 11 Oct. 2013
Brown dwarfs are objects in space that sit between the lines of being a star and a planet. This object is dim and hard to distinguish from low mass stars at the early stages of the dwarf’s life. They are often called failed stars because they start their life the same way as regular stars. However, in some stage, they just didn’t have enough mass gathered to generate the fusion-powered energy of a star. Scientists are certain that brown dwarfs are the missing link between stars and planets but the formations of dwarfs are still a mystery.
The majority of people have a very basic understanding of Earth, the planet we reside in, let alone the seven other planets in our solar system. The eight planets surrounding our star, the Sun, are separated into two very simple categories: Jovian and Terrestrial Planets. Throughout this paper, I will be explaining the basic structure and properties of the eight planets in our solar system, along with a brief history on the discovery of our solar system and what’s to come in the future. I will also go in depth into the difference between the Jovian Planets and the Terrestrial Planets, from the basic differences to the different structures and properties.
thought that Pluto belonged there (Dwarf Planets) and it would more interesting to study it in that way. For instance,
Although Pluto was discovered in 1930, limited information on the distant planet delayed a realistic understanding of its characteristics. Today Pluto remains the only planet that has not been visited by a spacecraft, yet an increasing amount of information is unfolding about this peculiar planet. The uniqueness of Pluto's orbit, rotational relationship with its satellite, spin axis, and light variations all give the planet a certain appeal.
In his charming book The Celestial Worlds Discover'd, posthumously published in 1696, most of the opening chapter celebrates all that was then known of planetary orbits, shapes, and sizes, as well as the planets' relative brightness and presumed rockiness. The book even includes foldout charts illustrating the structure of the solar system. God is absent from this discussion—even though a mere century earlier, before Newton's achievements, planetary orbits were supreme
...rst two letters of the name Pluto-was chosen as the planet’s astronomical symbol. Unfortunately, we learn later that Lowell’s Planet X theory is incorrect. In 1978, Pluto’s mass was found with the discovery of Charon, Pluto’s moon. Pluto, being a small planet, would have weak gravity. Therefore, this diminutive gravity could not affect the orbits of Uranus and Neptune. The International Astronomical Union reclassified Pluto as a dwarf planet in 2006. It was also revealed later that the strange orbits of Uranus and Neptune were due to the erroneous value of Neptune’s mass.
Dyson, Marianne J. Space and Astronomy: Decade by Decade. New York: Facts on File, 2007. 14+. Print.
Research News Planetary Scientists are Seeing the Unseeable Richard A. Kerr Science, New Series, Vol. 235, No. 2 -. 4784. The. Jan. 2, 1987, pp. 113-117. 29-31. The 'Standard' of the 'Standard'. Stable URL:
Perhaps one of the most interesting features of our fathomless universe are the planets that are classified as gas giants. Huge, turbulent, and distant, the gas giants are some of the most enigmatic features in our Solar System. I have a personal interest to the gas giants and celestial bodies in general. When I was a child, I was fascinated by our Solar System. I read innumerable books about space, and my interests of outer space had been piqued further by other forms of media. Although I held this interest of space, growing up left me with little time to learn about space, and I lost interest for a while. Taking Earth Science in Milpitas High re-invigorated my interests in the celestial bodies. Using this class, I’m now able to focus on learning more about our colossal universe, in particular, the outer planets.
'A discovery so unexpected could only have singular circumstances, for it was not due to an astronomer and the marvelous telescope…was not the work of an optician; it is Mr. Herschel, a [German] musician, to whom we owe the knowledge of this seventh principal planet.' (Hunt, 35)
Pluto is located 7.5 billion kilometers from Earth and is only over 2,000 km in diameter. Pluto has been labeled both a planet and a dwarf planet over the years. As said by USA Today, “a planet is a celestial body that: is in orbit around the sun, is round or nearly round, and has "cleared the neighborhood" around its orbit, meaning it is not surrounded by objects of similar size and characteristics.” Pluto only follows two of the three rules of a planet. Pluto crosses over Neptune’s orbit and is near other dwarf planets like it. Even though it breaks one rule it was officially named a dwarf planet in “August 2006”, as stated by the Library of Congress. After this event Pluto still only has one correct classification. Pluto is a planet because
Our solar system has eight planets, their moons and satellites, and they are all orbiting the Sun. The eight planets are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Pluto used to be the ninth planet but IAU changed the definition of planet and Pluto did not meet the standards so it is now a Dwarf planet.
The invited participants were chosen from a diverse group based on his or her interest or knowledge of science and astronomy, work experience, and the ability to easily engage in conversation. Out of...
Sidney, Philip. "Astrophel and Stella." Online. Renascence Editions. U of Oregon P. 6 Apr. 1999. Available HTTP: darkwing.uoregon.edu.