Pluto may become a planet again

In 2006, the International Astronomical Union revoked Pluto’s status as a planet. As of now, Pluto is a dwarf planet. However, its biggest fans do not stop trying to restore it to its former glory.

Astronomers from around the world, headsównie those working on the New Horizons probe mission, whichóra studies Pluto, they proposed to change the definition of the planet. Classification according to the new definition would restore Pluto to the ranks of planets. But this would also include more than 100 other bodies in our solar system, including our Moon.

The current definition of mósees that a planet is an astronomical object orbiting a star or its remnants, in którego inside of which there are no thermonuclear reactions. An object large enough to achieve dominance in its orbit and achieve an almost spherical shape.

The new definition, its authors argue, focuses on the intrinsic properties of an object, rather than its orbit and extrinsic properties. Mówi that the term planet should refer to any celestial body thatóre has a large enough gravity to assume a spherical shape adequately described by the ellipsoid trójaxial, regardless of the parameteróin the orbits of that body. The new definition also notes that a planet should be called a celestial body in which theórym never occurred thermonuclear fusion.

New definition drops requirement for planet to circle star. It also abandons the planet’s achievement of a dominant role in its orbit. According to the new theory, most large celestial bodies are planets. The asteroid belt between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter is a veritable cluster of planets. Similarly, the Kuiper Belt.

Scientists agree that the current definition is not the best, but proposed by fanóin Pluto will cause chaos. Whether Pluto will be a planet again will be discussed at the upcoming Lunar and Planetary Science Conference.