Pluto: The Former Planet?
A team of scientists in Prague made an important decision that Pluto should not be considered a planet.
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In 2006, the International Astronomical Union (IAU), based in Prague, officially redefined the criteria for classifying planets and determined that Pluto did not meet these criteria. This decision affected Pluto’s status from being the ninth planet in our solar system to being classified as a “dwarf planet.” It occurred because astronomers found many other similar-sized bodies beyond Pluto in the Kuiper Belt, leading to a clearer definition of what constitutes a planet. This change is significant because it reshaped our understanding of the solar system and stimulated discussions about planetary classification among scientists and the public.