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Pluto No Longer a Planet

by Mr. Flight on August 24th, 2006

As of right now, Pluto is no longer a planet. 424 astronomers voted earlier today to demote Pluto to a “Dwarf Planet”. Don’t start rewriting all of your text books, websites, and wiki entries just yet though as this decision will certainly be contested. As of this minute, here is how we are supposed to look at different objects flying around our solar system.

• Planets: The eight worlds from Mercury to Neptune.
• Dwarf Planets: Pluto and any other round object that "has not cleared the neighborhood around its orbit, and is not a satellite."
• Small Solar System Bodies: All other objects orbiting the Sun.

Will Dave Matthews re-record his song to say “8 planets, around the sun repeat”? You can read more about the decision from space.com.

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POSTED IN: Space Technology, aviation