EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -What differentiates a dwarf planet from a planet? For the most part, they are identical, but there’s one key difference: A dwarf planet hasn’t “cleared the neighborhood” around its orbit, which means it has not become gravitationally dominant and it shares its orbital space with other bodies of a similar size.

Detailed explanation-2: -A dwarf planet, by IAU’s new definition, must directly orbit the Sun. It must be massive enough for gravity to pull it into a roughly spherical shape. But unlike regular planets, dwarf planets haven’t cleared other smaller celestial debris out of its orbital path.

Detailed explanation-3: -According to the International Astronomical Union, which sets definitions for planetary science, a dwarf planet is a celestial body that-orbits the sun, has enough mass to assume a nearly round shape, has not cleared the neighborhood around its orbit and is not a moon.

Detailed explanation-4: -You may wonder what that means, “not clearing its neighboring region of other objects?” This means that the planet has become gravitationally dominant and there are no other bodies of comparable size other than its satellites.

Detailed explanation-5: -Pluto is now classified as a dwarf planet because, while it is large enough to have become spherical, it is not big enough to exert its orbital dominance and clear the neighborhood surrounding its orbit.