SOLAR SYSTEM

Detailed explanation-1: -In August 2006 the International Astronomical Union (IAU ) downgraded the status of Pluto to that of “dwarf planet.” This means that from now on only the rocky worlds of the inner Solar System and the gas giants of the outer system will be designated as planets.

Detailed explanation-2: -The world was introduced to dwarf planets in 2006, when petite Pluto was stripped of its planet status and reclassified as a dwarf planet. The International Astronomical Union (IAU) currently recognizes two other dwarf planets, Eris and Ceres.

Detailed explanation-3: -According to the IAU, Pluto is technically a “dwarf planet, ‘’ because it has not “cleared its neighboring region of other objects.” This means that Pluto still has lots of asteroids and other space rocks along its flight path, rather than having absorbed them over time, like the larger planets have done.

Detailed explanation-4: -But, in case of Pluto, it is affected by Neptune’s gravity. It also shares its orbit with the frozen objects in the Kuiper belt. Based on this, the IAU deemed that Pluto did not ‘clear its orbit’ (the third rule). Hence, it was designated a dwarf planet.