Pluto Now Called a Plutoid
Wednesday, June 11, 2008 by PPV
The International Astronomical Union has decided on the term "plutoid" as a name for dwarf planets like Pluto. The IAU has been responsible for naming planetary bodies and their satellites since the early 1900s.
Here's the official new definition:
Here's the official new definition:
"Plutoids are celestial bodies in orbit around the sun at a distance greater than that of Neptune that have sufficient mass for their self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that they assume a hydrostatic equilibrium (near-spherical) shape, and that have not cleared the neighborhood around their orbit."
In short: small round things beyond Neptune that orbit the sun and have lots of rocky neighbors.
The two known and named plutoids are Pluto and Eris, the IAU stated. The organization expects more plutoids will be found.
Read More: Yahoo News
