Why is Pluto no longer considered a planet?

Why is Pluto no longer considered a planet?

The International Astronomical Union (IAU) downgraded the status of Pluto to that of a dwarf planet because it did not meet the three criteria the IAU uses to define a full-sized planet. Essentially Pluto meets all the criteria except one—it “has not cleared its neighboring region of other objects.”

What are three reasons why Pluto is not a planet?

  • It’s smaller than any other planet — even smaller than Earth’s moon.
  • It’s dense and rocky, like the terrestrial planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars). …
  • Pluto’s orbit is erratic. …
  • One of its moons, Charon, is about half Pluto’s size.

  • It’s smaller than any other planet — even smaller than Earth’s moon.
  • It’s dense and rocky, like the terrestrial planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars). …
  • Pluto’s orbit is erratic. …
  • One of its moons, Charon, is about half Pluto’s size.
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