Aug. 24, 2006: Pluto Is Demoted

Aug. 24, 2006: Pluto is demoted

After much discussion and debate, an International Astronomical Union (IAU) vote on Aug. 24, 2006, reclassified Pluto as a dwarf planet. “Throw away the placemats. Grab a magic marker for the classroom charts. Take a pair of scissors to the solar system mobile,” crowed the New York Times coverage. While sentiment from the general publicContinue reading "Aug. 24, 2006: Pluto is demoted" The post Aug. 24, 2006: Pluto is demoted appeared first on A…

Pluto became a dwarf planet 20 years ago today

Pluto is the largest of many small bodies in the outer solar system. That's partly why it was demoted from major planet to dwarf planet in 2006. The post Pluto became a dwarf planet 20 years ago today first appeared on EarthSky.

It's been 20 years since Pluto lost planet status. Will it ever get its title back?

In August of 2006, astronomers at the International Astronomical Union (IAU) democratically voted to reclassify Pluto as a dwarf planet — but 20 years later, with our greater knowledge and understanding of planetary systems, is it time to revisit the controversial decision? Should Pluto be called a planet again?For several years before the IAU vote, there had been agitators among the astronomical community lobbying for our solar system's nine wo…

20 years after Pluto was made a dwarf planet, some still can’t let go

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman says he wants to “make Pluto a planet again,” two decades after it was reclassified.