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dwarf planet |
Also found in: Wikipedia, Hutchinson | 0.02 sec. |
dwarf planetBody, other than a natural satellite (moon), that orbits the Sun and that is, for practical purposes, smaller than the planet Mercury yet large enough for its own gravity to have rounded its shape substantially. The International Astronomical Union adopted this category of solar system bodies in August 2006, designating Pluto, the even more-remote object Eris, and the asteroid Ceres as the first members of the category. Unlike major planets, these three bodies are not massive enough and are in orbits too elliptical, too inclined, or both to have swept up most smaller nearby bodies by gravitational attraction; they thus failed to grow larger. How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content. |
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Instead, like Eris, it belongs to a newly defined class of objects called dwarf planets (SN: 9/2/06, p. Xena, a charcoal ball whose even dimmer companion moon was naturally christened Gabrielle until the International Astronomical Union Committee on Small-Body Nomenclature and the Working Group on Planetary-System Nomendature spoiled the fun by formally renaming the dwarf planets Eris and Dysnomia. While Pluto's demotion to a new category of dwarf planets made all K-12 curriculum materials pertaining to the solar system inaccurate and obsolete, educators are also looking on the change as a unique educational opportunity. |
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