SOLAR SYSTEM

Detailed explanation-1: -Called an asteroid for many years, Ceres is so much bigger and so different from its rocky neighbors that scientists classified it as a dwarf planet in 2006. Even though Ceres comprises 25% of the asteroid belt’s total mass, Pluto is still 14 times more massive.

Detailed explanation-2: -Ceres is not a planet because it does not dominate its orbit, sharing it as it does with the thousands of other asteroids in the asteroid belt and constituting only about 40% of the belt’s total mass.

Detailed explanation-3: -Ceres was initially classified as a planet and later classified as an asteroid as more objects were found in the same region. In recognition of its planet-like qualities, Ceres was designated a dwarf planet in 2006 along with Pluto and Eris.

Detailed explanation-4: -In 1802, additional objects were also found to be orbiting in the same area. Sir William Herschel labeled these objects as asteroids, so in 1802 Ceres became known as an asteroid, not a planet. Ceres was the largest known asteroid in the asteroid belt until 2006.

Detailed explanation-5: -They came up with a new term: dwarf planet, but decided that dwarf planets are not planets, just big asteroids! This goes against how stars are classified since most stars (including our Sun) are dwarf stars, yet they are still stars.

Detailed explanation-6: -In 1801, while making a star map, Giuseppe Piazzi accidentally discovered a small object 1000 kilometers (600 miles) in diameter between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. Piazzi named the object Ceres. It was the first asteroid to be discovered.