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IAU unveils definition of "planet" - and Pluto is off the list [View All]

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Home » Discuss » Archives » General Discussion (01/01/06 through 01/22/2007)

derby378

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Thu Aug-24-06 08:54 AM
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IAU unveils definition of "planet" - and Pluto is off the list

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According to the International Astronomical Union:

Planet: a celestial body that is in orbit around the sun, has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a ... nearly round shape, and has cleared the neighborhood around its orbit.

Pluto's orbit takes it into the same neighborhood as Neptune, so it's off the list. We are down to eight planets again.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/sns-ap-pluto-demoted,0,5183551.story?coll=chi-newsbreaking-hed

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