Neptune does not clear Pluto's orbit.

[Xist]

So, everybody decided to ditch Pluto twelve years ago, and while everyone had reasons, I just discovered the alleged real reason the other day--Pluto does not clear its own orbit.

Am I going to explain that?

No.

This scientist says that the definition that disqualified Pluto as a planet does not make sense and does not have a foundation: https://phys.org/news/2018-09-pluto-...ed-planet.html

I do not know if that guy mentioned it, but if Pluto does not clear its own orbit, neither does Neptune.

Neil Degrassy Tyson says that if we classify every spherical body in the solar system as a planet we would have fifty.

Nobody calls Endor a planet, even though it had adequate gravity and supported life. I bet you do not even know the name of the host planet!

Actually, the planet is Endor. Oh well.

1. Adequate mass to become spherical.
2. Not orbiting a larger planet.
3. ????
4. Planet!

[RedDevil]

The Force is strong with this one.

I guess some planets are more planet than others.
Pluto is a dog and Goofy is a dog, but somehow Pluto is more dog than Goofy.

(Actually Goofy is based on a dingo: Canis lupus dingo, while Pluto is a mixed breed dog: Canis lupus familiaris.)

Most people produce more endorphins when accompanied by dogs.

[Xist]

Is that when walking the dog or being chased by it?

[niky]

Goofy occupies a different ecological niche to Pluto.

Pluto is a monkey analogue. Goofy is a human analogue.

-

Fudge it, I agree with him. Sphericity.

Because the "Dwarf Planet" classification doesn't make much sense when some of those dwarves don't have enough mass to form into a perfect sphere.

Also, why does Mercury get a free pass when it is smaller than some moons?

[RedDevil]

Originally Posted by Xist

Is that when walking the dog or being chased by it?

Both do, actually. Getting bitten does the trick too.

[Xist]

Several moons are larger than the planet Pluto and two moons are larger than the planet Mercury. There also are many small moons that may be asteroids captured by their planets.

The smallest moons are seven miles in diameter, except asteroids have moons, too. In 1993, an tiny moon called Dactyl was discovered orbiting the large asteroid Ida. Dactyl is only about 1 mile wide.

Cassini discovered two moons, two miles, and two and a half miles in diameter. Is there a minimum size to classify as a moon, aside from "Large enough to be detected?"

[oil pan 4]

Yes, eventually Pluto will hit Neptune or become one of its moons, possibly with in the next 100,000 years.

If you look at Jupiter it looks more like a solar system than a planet with moons.

[NeilBlanchard]

There are many reasons that Pluto is no longer classified as a planet. There are many other bodies out there around it - that are larger than Pluto. Like 100, if I recall correctly. It is not in an orbit that is "flat" with the major planets.

[samwichse]

[Xist]

Wow, you guys are so intolerant! Why won't you let a planet do it's own thing?! No! Conform or we demote you!

What does Pluto even care about your opinion?!