The “Not-Quite-Planet” Pluto …and Friends!
... distance from New York to Mumbai, India - making it the first-ever space mission to explore a world so far from Earth. This stunning image of the dwarf planet was captured from New Horizons at about 4 p.m. EDT on July 13, 2015, about 16 hours before the moment of closest approach. The spacecraft was ...
... distance from New York to Mumbai, India - making it the first-ever space mission to explore a world so far from Earth. This stunning image of the dwarf planet was captured from New Horizons at about 4 p.m. EDT on July 13, 2015, about 16 hours before the moment of closest approach. The spacecraft was ...
The New Dwarf Planet and Plutoids
... our solar system. The definition for planets has changed and there are now dwarf planets and plutoids. In 2006 leading astronomers redefined the word planet. A planet is now defined as a large celestial body orbiting a star. It is nearly round, has its own gravity, and must clear the neighborhood ar ...
... our solar system. The definition for planets has changed and there are now dwarf planets and plutoids. In 2006 leading astronomers redefined the word planet. A planet is now defined as a large celestial body orbiting a star. It is nearly round, has its own gravity, and must clear the neighborhood ar ...
The Inner and Outer Planets
... gravity. Pluto is only 0.07 times the mass of the other objects in its orbit. The Earth, in comparison, has 1.7 million times the mass of the other objects in its orbit. Any object that doesn’t meet this 3rd criteria is considered a dwarf planet. And so, Pluto is a dwarf planet. There are still many ...
... gravity. Pluto is only 0.07 times the mass of the other objects in its orbit. The Earth, in comparison, has 1.7 million times the mass of the other objects in its orbit. Any object that doesn’t meet this 3rd criteria is considered a dwarf planet. And so, Pluto is a dwarf planet. There are still many ...
Why is Pluto no longer a planet
... A dwarf planet is a celestial body that is in orbit around the Sun, is massive enough for its own gravity to make it round, is not a moon but has not cleared the neighbourhood around its orbit. The latter point means that there are bodies of a similar size in the orbit of the dwarf planet. For examp ...
... A dwarf planet is a celestial body that is in orbit around the Sun, is massive enough for its own gravity to make it round, is not a moon but has not cleared the neighbourhood around its orbit. The latter point means that there are bodies of a similar size in the orbit of the dwarf planet. For examp ...
Definition of a planet in the Solar System
... Contemporary observations are changing our understanding of planetary systems, and it is important that our nomenclature for objects reflect our current understanding. This applies, in particular, to the designation "planets". The word "planet" originally described "wanderers" that were known only a ...
... Contemporary observations are changing our understanding of planetary systems, and it is important that our nomenclature for objects reflect our current understanding. This applies, in particular, to the designation "planets". The word "planet" originally described "wanderers" that were known only a ...
Some additional information on Dwarf Planets
... mass was much smaller than the initial estimations.[9] It was roughly one-twentieth the mass of Mercury, which made Pluto by far the smallest planet. Although it was still more than ten times as massive as the largest object in the asteroid belt, Ceres, it was one-fifth that of Earth's Moon.[10] Fur ...
... mass was much smaller than the initial estimations.[9] It was roughly one-twentieth the mass of Mercury, which made Pluto by far the smallest planet. Although it was still more than ten times as massive as the largest object in the asteroid belt, Ceres, it was one-fifth that of Earth's Moon.[10] Fur ...
Student 5: Low Achieved
... What’s the difference between a planet and a dwarf planet? Modern land and space observatories have meant that much more is known about the solar system today. New objects in the outer solar system are often being identified. In our solar system Pluto has always been the odd one out, mainly because ...
... What’s the difference between a planet and a dwarf planet? Modern land and space observatories have meant that much more is known about the solar system today. New objects in the outer solar system are often being identified. In our solar system Pluto has always been the odd one out, mainly because ...
The Kuiper Belt and the Oort Cloud
... Sedna travels in a long, elliptical orbit between 76 and nearly 1,000 AU from the sun. Since Sedna's orbit takes it to such an extreme distance, its discoverers have suggested that it is the first observed body belonging to the inner Oort Cloud. In July 2005, a team of scientists announced the disc ...
... Sedna travels in a long, elliptical orbit between 76 and nearly 1,000 AU from the sun. Since Sedna's orbit takes it to such an extreme distance, its discoverers have suggested that it is the first observed body belonging to the inner Oort Cloud. In July 2005, a team of scientists announced the disc ...
Overview Presentation on Pluto and Occultations
... its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round) shape, and (c) has cleared the neighbourhood around its orbit. (2) A "dwarf planet" is a celestial body that (a) is in orbit around the Sun, (b) has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to over ...
... its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round) shape, and (c) has cleared the neighbourhood around its orbit. (2) A "dwarf planet" is a celestial body that (a) is in orbit around the Sun, (b) has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to over ...
Outer Planets Notes The Outer Planets Gas Planets
... • Odd orbit, sometimes is closer to Sun than Neptune • 5 moons • Largest moon Charon is half size of Pluto • Considered by some to be a double-planet with Charon ...
... • Odd orbit, sometimes is closer to Sun than Neptune • 5 moons • Largest moon Charon is half size of Pluto • Considered by some to be a double-planet with Charon ...
Outer Planets Notes
... • Haumea shaped like a football • Haumea and Makemake named after Polynesian mythic characters • Eris larger than Pluto • Hundreds of other objects in Solar System may be classified as dwarf planets ...
... • Haumea shaped like a football • Haumea and Makemake named after Polynesian mythic characters • Eris larger than Pluto • Hundreds of other objects in Solar System may be classified as dwarf planets ...
planet
... • “Any definition that allows a planet in one location but not another is unworkable. Take Earth. Move it to Pluto’s orbit, and it will be instantly disqualified as a planet.” (Allan Stern) • What does clear the neighborhood really mean? – Earth, Mars, Jupiter and Neptune all have asteroids as neigh ...
... • “Any definition that allows a planet in one location but not another is unworkable. Take Earth. Move it to Pluto’s orbit, and it will be instantly disqualified as a planet.” (Allan Stern) • What does clear the neighborhood really mean? – Earth, Mars, Jupiter and Neptune all have asteroids as neigh ...
Article on Pluto (for 1st science news)
... Soon several other asteroids were discovered, and these, too, were summarily designated as newly found planets. But when astronomers continued finding numerous other asteroids in the region (there are thought to be hundreds of thousands), the astronomical community in the early 1850s demoted Ceres a ...
... Soon several other asteroids were discovered, and these, too, were summarily designated as newly found planets. But when astronomers continued finding numerous other asteroids in the region (there are thought to be hundreds of thousands), the astronomical community in the early 1850s demoted Ceres a ...
Read an Excerpt!
... the solar system. In 1951, American astronomer Gerard Kuiper suggested the same idea. For many years, however, no one knew if the Edgeworth-Kuiper belt really existed. Then, in 1992, astronomers found an object beyond Pluto. It was just a hundred miles across, so it was not big enough to be a planet ...
... the solar system. In 1951, American astronomer Gerard Kuiper suggested the same idea. For many years, however, no one knew if the Edgeworth-Kuiper belt really existed. Then, in 1992, astronomers found an object beyond Pluto. It was just a hundred miles across, so it was not big enough to be a planet ...
Dineen- Pla-nots
... It’s been an exciting week for the International Astronomical Union meeting in Prague! First, on August 16, 2006, some astronomers proposed a new definition for "planet" that would result in the addition of several cosmic entities as new planets and others to be under consideration. Besides reaffirm ...
... It’s been an exciting week for the International Astronomical Union meeting in Prague! First, on August 16, 2006, some astronomers proposed a new definition for "planet" that would result in the addition of several cosmic entities as new planets and others to be under consideration. Besides reaffirm ...
what are Dwarf or minor planets and how did they form?
... Largest asteroid in the asteroid belt Considered dwarf planet in 2006 Guiseppe Piazzi Discovered Largest body in the asteroid belt Turns in its axis every 9 hours ...
... Largest asteroid in the asteroid belt Considered dwarf planet in 2006 Guiseppe Piazzi Discovered Largest body in the asteroid belt Turns in its axis every 9 hours ...
Pluto: To be or not to be?
... Definition of a planet? There is no REAL definition of what a planet is… Purely historical. Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto are planets. Nothing else in the solar system is a planet. Historical plus. Mercury through Pluto are planets, as is any newly dis ...
... Definition of a planet? There is no REAL definition of what a planet is… Purely historical. Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto are planets. Nothing else in the solar system is a planet. Historical plus. Mercury through Pluto are planets, as is any newly dis ...
January 23
... • “Any definition that allows a planet in one location but not another is unworkable. Take Earth. Move it to Pluto’s orbit, and it will be instantly disqualified as a planet.” (Allan Stern) • What does clear the neighborhood really mean? – Earth, Mars, Jupiter and Neptune all have asteroids as neigh ...
... • “Any definition that allows a planet in one location but not another is unworkable. Take Earth. Move it to Pluto’s orbit, and it will be instantly disqualified as a planet.” (Allan Stern) • What does clear the neighborhood really mean? – Earth, Mars, Jupiter and Neptune all have asteroids as neigh ...
The Universe
... Always considered “different” Largest moon to planet ratio Most inclined orbit - highly elliptical Percival Lowell searched for “Planet X” to explain orbital perturbations of Uranus and Neptune Clyde Tombaugh discovered Pluto in 1930 at age 24 Originally thought to be Mars-sized - actually smaller t ...
... Always considered “different” Largest moon to planet ratio Most inclined orbit - highly elliptical Percival Lowell searched for “Planet X” to explain orbital perturbations of Uranus and Neptune Clyde Tombaugh discovered Pluto in 1930 at age 24 Originally thought to be Mars-sized - actually smaller t ...
Trans Neptunian Objects (TNOs)
... The 8 planets of the Solar System are clearly divided between the 4 inner, smaller, rocky planets and the 4 outer, much larger, gas planets. The inner planets orbit the Sun at faster speeds and within a two year period. Temperatures are warmer, being closer to the Sun and there are few moons (only t ...
... The 8 planets of the Solar System are clearly divided between the 4 inner, smaller, rocky planets and the 4 outer, much larger, gas planets. The inner planets orbit the Sun at faster speeds and within a two year period. Temperatures are warmer, being closer to the Sun and there are few moons (only t ...
Planet, Dwarf Planet, or neither?
... that lie outside the orbit of Neptune. Kuiper Belt Objects are TNOs that are in the Kuiper Belt region of the Solar System. Notable ones include Pluto, Eris, Sedna, and many more. The discovery of Eris by Mike Brown in 2005 provided a catalyst for the IAU to formally define what makes a planet. ...
... that lie outside the orbit of Neptune. Kuiper Belt Objects are TNOs that are in the Kuiper Belt region of the Solar System. Notable ones include Pluto, Eris, Sedna, and many more. The discovery of Eris by Mike Brown in 2005 provided a catalyst for the IAU to formally define what makes a planet. ...
Other objects in space guided notes
... Warm-up: Draw where you would place the following and write one fact about each: Meteor, Meteoroid, Meteorite, Asteroid, and Comet. ...
... Warm-up: Draw where you would place the following and write one fact about each: Meteor, Meteoroid, Meteorite, Asteroid, and Comet. ...
Other solar system objects
... • Halley noticed that one could be seen every 76y – It last appeared in 1986; when will it be back? ...
... • Halley noticed that one could be seen every 76y – It last appeared in 1986; when will it be back? ...
Eris (dwarf planet)
Eris (minor-planet designation 136199 Eris) is the most-massive and second-largest dwarf planet known in the Solar System. It is also the ninth-most-massive known body directly orbiting the Sun, and the largest known body in the Solar System not visited by a spacecraft. It was measured to be 2,326 ± 12 kilometers (1,445.3 ± 7.5 mi) in diameter. Eris is 27% more massive than dwarf planet Pluto, though Pluto is slightly larger by volume. Eris's mass is about 0.27% of the Earth's mass.Eris was discovered in January 2005 by a Palomar Observatory–based team led by Mike Brown, and its identity was verified later that year. It is a trans-Neptunian object (TNO) and a member of a high-eccentricity population known as the scattered disk. It has one known moon, Dysnomia. As of 2014, its distance from the Sun is 96.4 astronomical units (1.442×1010 km; 8.96×109 mi), roughly three times that of Pluto. With the exception of some comets, Eris and Dysnomia are currently the most distant known natural objects in the Solar System.Because Eris appeared to be larger than Pluto, NASA initially described it as the Solar System's tenth planet. This, along with the prospect of other objects of similar size being discovered in the future, motivated the International Astronomical Union (IAU) to define the term planet for the first time. Under the IAU definition approved on August 24, 2006, Eris is a ""dwarf planet"", along with objects such as Pluto, Ceres, Haumea and Makemake, thereby reducing the number of known planets in the Solar System to eight, the same as before Pluto's discovery in 1930. Observations of a stellar occultation by Eris in 2010 showed that its diameter was 2,326 ± 12 kilometers (1,445.3 ± 7.5 mi), not significantly different from that of Pluto. After New Horizons measured Pluto's diameter as 7006237200000000000♠2372±4 km in July 2015, it was determined that Eris is slightly smaller in diameter than Pluto.