Has Pluto been demoted to the status of a non-planet?

Pluto is a small planet, but despite debates over the last decade whether it is a planet or a large asteroid, it remains classified by Dr. Brian Marsden and the International Astronomical Union, as the smallest planet in the solar system. Whether it is an escaped moon, or a big comet nucleus is irrelevant.


Copyright 1997 Dr. Sten Odenwald
Return to Ask the Astronomer.