𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗣𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗼 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗲𝘁? - Param Himalaya
In 2006, the International Astronomical Union (IAU), the organization responsible for classifying celestial bodies, issued a new definition for what constitutes a planet.
According to the IAU definition, a celestial body must meet three criteria to be considered a planet:
𝟭. It must orbit the Sun.
𝟮. It must be spherical in shape, meaning it has enough mass to pull itself into a round shape due to its own gravity.
𝟯. It must have cleared its orbit of other debris.
Pluto meets the first two criteria, but it does not meet the third one. Its orbit intersects with that of Neptune, and it shares its orbital neighborhood, known as the Kuiper Belt, with other small icy objects. These objects are collectively called "plutoids" and include Eris, Haumea, Makemake, and others.
Based on the third criterion, the IAU reclassified Pluto as a "dwarf planet." A dwarf planet is a celestial body that meets the first two criteria but has not cleared its