PLUTO
Pluto is a dwarf planet in our solar system
DESCRIPTION
Pluto was known as the smallest planet in our solar system and the ninth planet from the sun. Today Pluto is called a dwarf planet. a dwarf planet orbits the sun just like other planets, but it is smaller. Pluto was discovered on February 18th 1930. Pluto's orbital period is 248 earth years.
Important Facts
Discovered in 1930, Pluto was originally considered the ninth planet from the Sun. Its status as a major planet fell into question following further study of it and the outer solar system over the next 75 years. Starting in 1977 with the discovery of the minor planet Chiron numerous icy objects similar to Pluto with eccentric orbits were found.The scattered disc object Eris, discovered in 2005, is 27% more massive than Pluto. The understanding that Pluto is only one of several large icy bodies in the outer Solar System prompted the International Astronomical Union to formally define the dwarf planet in 2006. This definition excluded Pluto and reclassified it as a member of the new dwarf planet category. Astronomers who oppose this decision hold that Pluto should have remained classified as a planet, and that other dwarf planets and even moons should be added to the list of planets along with Pluto.