Dwarf planet
from class: 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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Predict what's on your test 5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test Pluto was reclassified from a planet to a dwarf planet by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in 2006. Dwarf planets, like Pluto, are part of the Kuiper Belt, which is a region beyond Neptune filled with small icy bodies. Charon, Pluto's largest moon, is so large relative to Pluto that they are sometimes considered a double dwarf planet system. As of now, there are five officially recognized dwarf planets in our solar system: Pluto, Eris, Haumea, Makemake, and Ceres. 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. "Dwarf planet" also found in:
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