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Should Pluto Be Considered A Planet Essay

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Many may urge that Pluto should be considered a planet for it has similar characteristics as the planets of the Solar System; however, others still believe that Pluto should not be considered a planet because of its slight differences and conditions that are not matched.

Pluto is recognised by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) as a dwarf planet for it doesn't match the third condition of what defines a planet. IAU proposed three conditions to becoming a planet. The first condition being: (a) is in orbit around the Sun; the second condition being: (b) has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round) shape; the third condition, in which Pluto has not met the standards to, being:(c) has cleared the neighbourhood around its orbit. Pluto doesn’t meet the standards to the final condition as Pluto follows the orbit path of some asteroid-like objects in space and are surrounded with these objects. If people were to ignore the third condition and recognise Pluto …show more content…

Reporters with interest in Pluto have published many articles related to the matter of whether Pluto should be considered a planet. Many are opposing the opinion that Pluto should not be considered a planet as the third condition is very vague. For instance, the Earth’s neighbourhood could be considered as not cleared out as the moon is following it around; Jupiter is continuously having contact with asteroids named Trojans, and Neptune’s orbit crosses over with Pluto’s orbit. The Guardian stated in one of it’s articles that Pluto should not have a ban from being a planet due to its small size. IAU, however, has not made any regards on this criticism. These opposing views about Pluto may be correct in a way; however, factually speaking, Pluto is still not considered as a planet as IAU has not made any changes towards its definition of the word,

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