November, 2023
2006… the ninth planet in the solar system, Pluto, was considered a dwarf planet. That’s what we all learn today- there are 8 main planets and Pluto is a dwarf planet, right? Well, what we don’t know is that scientists are still debating on the fact that why is Pluto a dwarf planet and whether can they put it back in its place, among its 8 planet friends. Well, let’s find out an answer to this bizarre question- CAN PLUTO BE A PLANET AGAIN?
Well, Pluto was discovered on February 18, 1930, by a 25-year-old genius, Clyde Tombaugh who studied at Lowell University at that time. People termed it the newest planet in the solar system, but it all changed in 2006 when the IAU (International Astronomical Union) termed it a dwarf planet. They believed that the three main factors should be followed by Pluto to be a dwarf planet:
1. It is round
2. It orbits the sun
3. It has cleared its neighborhood around it
Pluto did not follow the third reason and hence was not considered a planet. Sad for poor Pluto, isn’t it?
Well now, the main question arises- “Can we invite Pluto back to being one of the main planets in the Solar System?”
According to many scientists, there are about 150 planets in our solar system altogether. But only 8 have been considered as a planet and the rest are dwarf or rouge planets.
But many say that according to the definition used by scientists since the 16th century “Planets are any geologically active bodies in space”, Pluto including every other body should be classified as a planet and there should be at least 150 planets in our solar system.
Many scientists are now arguing about the ‘non-scientific’ terms given by the IAU that the 8 planets are specifically special, which have no better scientific classifications. They say that Eris, Makemake, and even moons like Titan and Triton should considered a planet.
To prove their point, they even did some observation and saw the major changes in the orbit of Pluto, and stated that Pluto has had changes in its orbit and is almost meeting the third requirement, and hence should be considered as a planet again.
According to all the factors, I think Pluto should be considered as a planet again, despite the definitions of the IAU as they are not scientific enough to prove that Pluto is not a planet.
