Intro to Astronomy

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Dwarf planet

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Intro to Astronomy

Definition

A dwarf planet is a celestial body that orbits the Sun and has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to assume a nearly round shape, but has not cleared its neighboring region of other objects. It differs from a planet in that it does not dominate its orbit.

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5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

  1. Pluto was reclassified from a planet to a dwarf planet by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in 2006.
  2. Dwarf planets, like Pluto, are part of the Kuiper Belt, which is a region beyond Neptune filled with small icy bodies.
  3. Charon, Pluto's largest moon, is so large relative to Pluto that they are sometimes considered a double dwarf planet system.
  4. As of now, there are five officially recognized dwarf planets in our solar system: Pluto, Eris, Haumea, Makemake, and Ceres.
  5. Unlike planets, dwarf planets have not cleared their orbital paths of other debris.

Review Questions

  • What distinguishes a dwarf planet from a regular planet?
  • Why was Pluto reclassified as a dwarf planet?
  • Name at least two other recognized dwarf planets besides Pluto.

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