Is Pluto really a planet?

Pluto has been the ninth planet in our solar system ever since it was found. But, Pluto is a small rocky planet with a very strange orbit. Sim it doesn't really fit in with the rest of the gaseous outer planets. Pluto is more like an asteroid. So, some astronomers don't think Pluto should be called a planet.

The International Astronomical Union (IAU)is a group that gets to decide questions for astronomers around the world. They have been talking about Pluto, and what it should be called. Since Pluto is very important to a lot of people, the IAU isn't going to say Pluto can't be a planet. They are talking about calling Pluto both a planet and an asteroid, but Pluto still is a planet!


Submitted by Matt (Missouri, USA), Kristin (Texas, USA), Karen (Hong Kong), Matthew (New York, USA), Ian and Christi (Oregon, USA)
(May 4, 1999)


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