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Pluto: A Mysterious World with Complex Features

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Alvish Asher

. 4 min read

Pluto was not discovered until 1930, when it was hailed as the most distant planet, despite the fact that it is farther away from the sun than the moon is from Earth. It has been demoted to the status of "dwarf planet," but it still holds the distinction of being one of the more mysterious bodies in the Solar System. There are mountains, valleys, plains, craters, and possibly glaciers on Pluto. It is a world that is both complex and mysterious. Pluto was initially thought to be the ninth planet in our solar system when it was discovered in 1930. The icy world of Pluto, on the other hand, was reclassified as a dwarf planet after the discovery of other similarly fascinating worlds deeper within the Kuiper Belt. The only other known world, Pluto, was given its name by a female student who was 11 years old at the time.


Pluto's Extreme Temperature Conditions: Impact on the Possibility of Life

The extremely low temperatures found on the surface of Pluto, and how these temperatures make it highly unlikely for any form of life to survive there. It would mention that water, which is essential for life as we know it, transforms into a solid, rock-like state when exposed to such low temperatures. However, the article may also mention that the interior of Pluto is much hotter, and that some scientists believe there may be an ocean deep within the planet. The article could discuss the implications of this possibility, and the potential for the existence of life within this hypothetical ocean. It may also delve into the various factors that contribute to the extreme temperature conditions on Pluto, such as its distance from the sun and its atmosphere.

What are the Reasons for Removing Pluto from the List of Planets?

The decision to remove Pluto from the list of known planets. It would mention that on August 24, 2006, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) passed two resolutions that, when combined, resulted in the reclassification of Pluto as a dwarf planet rather than a planet. The article could go into detail about these resolutions, including Resolution 5A, which states that a planet must orbit the sun, have sufficient mass to assume a nearly round shape due to its own gravity, and have cleared the neighborhood around its orbit. The article may also mention that Pluto does not meet the third requirement because its orbit intersects with that of Neptune.

Where do planets come from? The 5A Resolution states:

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 shape (nearly round), and (c) has cleared the neighborhood around its orbit [ref]. [a] 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 assume Even though Pluto is reasonably round and travels around the sun, it does not satisfy the requirements because its orbit intersects with that of Neptune.

Pluto's Reclassification as a Dwarf Planet: Resolution 6A

Another resolution, referred to as Resolution 6A, also addresses the topic of Pluto head-on by referring to it as a dwarf planet. Pluto is significantly larger than was previously believed, despite its smaller size compared to the moon of Earth. Recent measurements obtained from New Horizons indicate that the diameter of Pluto is 1,473 miles, while the diameter of the moon of Earth is 2,160 miles. Pluto's diameter is significantly smaller than that of the moon. Pluto takes up only 18.5% of the space that Earth does.

Pluto, the fictional dog created by Disney, got his name from the defunct planet:

However, contrary to popular belief, the dog was named after the (ex)-planet Pluto, not the other way around. The first appearance of Disney's Pluto the dog took place in the same year that the former planet was discovered. The animators at Disney have a theory that Walt Disney chose the name so that he could cash in on the excitement surrounding the brand new planet. Pluto follows the same path around the sun as the other planets, asteroids, and comets. Similar to other planets, Pluto has a roughly spherical shape, in contrast to comets and asteroids. In contrast to comets and asteroids, the planet Pluto has its very own satellites in orbit around it.

Why should Pluto be reinstated to its former status as a planet?

The International Astronomical Union (IAU) has been accused of having an arbitrary definition of a planet, which has led to widespread criticism. Among these skeptics is NASA administrator Jim Bridenstine, who made the following statement during a keynote address at the 2019 International Astronautical Congress: "I am here to tell you, as the NASA administrator, I believe Pluto is a planet." Bridenstine went on to say that "some people have argued that in order to be a planet, you have to clear your orbit around the sun." Bridenstine is one of the people who believe that Pluto is not a planet. If that is the definition that we are going to use, then you could consider all the planets to be dwarf planets because there isn't a planet that clears its entire orbit around the sun.

Conclusion

Because of the relative brightness that Eris possesses, over the course of time it came to be considered to be the largest of the dwarf planets. However, following a series of studies and calculations, it was concluded that the object has a smaller diameter than previously thought. As a result, Pluto is now the largest dwarf planet in the Solar System. You should now be aware of the rationale behind the removal of Pluto from the list of planets. Or maybe you're just not used to hearing people refer to Pluto as the ninth planet in our Solar System.

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