Is Pluto a planet? Here’s what changed to make it a dwarf planet.

Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Pluto. Subject to memorization in school and known as the definitive planetary lineup, Pluto was included in the list until the International Astronomical Union determined it did not meet qualifications in 2006. 

Though Pluto is no longer considered a major planet, it’s still beloved by the science community and regularly makes headlines. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration recently posted a technicolor photo of Pluto, created by scientists to show subtle differences between its regions. 

Here’s why Pluto isn’t officially considered a planet anymore.

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Why is Pluto not a planet?

Pluto came into the lexicon in 1930 when astronomer Clyde Tombaugh discovered it when searching for signs of a planet. It wasn’t until the early 2000s that researchers began developing the qualifications for a celestial body to be considered a planet.


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