Hi, my name is Ben Ten living in North America. I am a student of Bachelors Part – II and a book wormer. I interested in astronomy and I prefer to search for information about astronomy. I want to have some necessary knowledge about astronomy. I especially draw my attention in Planet Pluto. I introduce my website, which contain the useful information about Pluto planet and some Facts about planet Pluto. There are also some pictures of Pluto. I hope that, they will provide to you useful knowledge about astronomy in general and Pluto in particular.

1. The Planet Pluto - What Makes This a Suspicious
Planet?
A lot of people – children and adults alike, have always been fascinated with Pluto.
Even if it is trillions of miles away, many wondered what life would be if people lived in
that distant planet. My science teachers all described Pluto as the ninth planet of the solar
system. Most people take this fact for granted and went about their business.
Astronomers themselves were mystified by Pluto, but since space technologically was not
yet advanced in that time, they accepted it
as part of the solar system.
However, with the advent of
powerful new ground and space-based
observatories decades later, the winds of
change has descended in the Astronomy
community in which more than four
hundred twenty-four astronomers voted to
decide if Pluto is part of the family of
planets – or a misfit. The vote was
controversial because less than five
percent of the world’s astronomers were
represented in the International Astronomical Union in Prague. Majority of them voted to
demote Pluto as a planet. According to them, there were discoveries that proved that
Pluto was actually a “dwarf planet”. Aside from the fact that it was too distant to be
reached by thorough observation, Pluto could not be classified as a terrestrial planet like
Mercury, Mars, Venus, and Earth or as a gas giant like Jupiter, Neptune and Saturn.
Moreover, it is made of ice and rock and there were recent discoveries of other moons
like Eris, which is made of the same properties like Pluto. It is even more massive than
Pluto that astronomers began to doubt on the concept on what defines the nine planets of
the solar system, so they decided to make certain rules on what is a planet. What doomed
Pluto was that majority of astronomers noted that it has low massive properties like Ceres
and Eris. In the end, they voted on a highly contentious decision by classifying Pluto (and
Eris) as “dwarf planets.”
For these reasons, Pluto was relegated to a place in the Universe called "Kuiper
Belt." From being the smallest planet, it is now the second largest belt object of that
place. Many astronomers criticized the decision and are planning to appeal, but those

2. who voted for Pluto to be downgraded are unperturbed with their decision. For them,
their suspicions are justified because no space exploration was conducted because of it
great distance. Moreover, it has an eccentric orbit that was out of line with the eight other
planets. Although Pluto can orbit around the sun and has enough gravity to pull itself into
a spherical shape, astronomers came up with the argument that planets must be the
dominant gravitational body in their orbit. They must also interact, consume and sling
smaller objects away with their gravity which was not the case with Pluto.
Notwithstanding it suspicious nature or the assessment of astronomers, Pluto is still
a fascinating planet to many people. Its remoteness and beauty is still a sight to behold
and it would not matter why Pluto was demoted. Who knows? Maybe one day,
astronomers may come up with more discoveries and bring back Pluto as part of our solar
system. For now, it will be lumped with other moons in a desolate place like the Kuiper
belt. Hopefully, significant discoveries about Pluto being a planet may change minds of
those who attended the International Astronomical Union in the future.
The Reasons Why Pluto Was Demoted
After years of hot debate, the unthinkable has happened. Pluto is no longer a planet,
which means there are only eight “official” planets in the solar system. Majority of the
424 astronomers who attended the International Astronomical Union, or roughly five
percent of the world’s astronomers voted to downgrade Pluto as a dwarf planet. The
controversial decision was arrived at when the
Union established three categories. First,
planets need to orbit around the sun. Second,
planets need enough gravity to pull themselves
into spherical shapes. Lastly, they need to
become the dominant gravitational bodies in
their own orbits in the solar system.
Pluto was able to fit into the first two
categories, but since it was in the recently
discovered Kuiper Belt – wherein it is far smaller than objects like Eris (discovered in
2005 by Mike Brown), the cards began to fall. Since there were two or three objects that
were more massive than Pluto and were made of the same ice/rock mixture, it cast doubts
whether Pluto was the dominant body. To settle the problem astronomers decided to
make a definition of a planet in August 14 to 25, 2006 in Prague, Czech Republic. In the
end after much debate, Pluto was “demoted” as a dwarf planet, which was the new

3. classification given by astronomers. By virtue of the third ruling, most science textbooks
have to be revised and remove Pluto as a planet.
Initially, there were proposals on how to preserve Pluto as a planet, but these were
roundly criticized. Even when the debates ended, the third ruling was deemed as
“flawed” because Jupiter has tens of thousands of asteroids that were not “cleared” yet,
same as Earth. It may take years for most people to accept this ruling, but the controversy
rages on. Moreover, Mars and Neptune have asteroids as their “neighbors.” Another
glaring point is that out of ten-thousand astronomers all over the world, only four-
hundred-twenty four voted. A group of dissenting astronomers have now passed a
petition in order to overturn the Union’s vote.
The debates began in the late1990s on whether to demote Pluto or not. Mike
Brown’s discovery of the Kuiber belt fueled more discussions about Pluto, which led to
the International Astronomical Union vote in those fateful days in August. For some
people, like Mike Brown, Pluto’s demotion may not sit well with many people nor make
them excited. Nevertheless, it would make him look forward into educating people why
Pluto is not a planet. It is just a beginning of his journey.
While people on Earth are still discussing this contentious issue, Pluto will wander
in its newly classified, desolate and dark world. It would not be lonely though because
Charon is at its side. Even if there are reasons for its demotion as a dwarf planet, it cannot
be denied that Pluto will always be a mysterious planet. The beauty of this celestial body
is that it is “eccentric” with its axis, has a bigger moon that is facing it, which makes both
look like a dumbbell and knocks on the door of Neptune once every twenty years. Until a
space probe reaches that place, Pluto will remain a beautiful speck in the sky. Stargazers
with enough luck to locate it and scientists who are using the Hubble telescope will
marvel at its haunting beauty.