Is Pluto still a planet?

Zoron11 The Planets, The Solar System April 23, 2023June 19, 2023Planets, The Solar System

Pluto is a “dwarf planet”

Although Pluto was downgraded by astronomers from planet status in 2006, there is still much debate about the matter.

In 2006, the IAU redefined the term “planet” and declared that Pluto did not meet the criteria to be classified as a planet. Instead, Pluto was reclassified as a “dwarf planet,” along with other similar celestial bodies in our solar system.

Pluto is not considered a planet according to the definition set by the International Astronomical Union (IAU).

Recently , NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine declared that, in his opinion, Pluto is still a planet. Bridenstine was speaking at a FIRST Robotics event in Colorado.

“Just so you know, in my view, Pluto is a planet, and you can write that the NASA Administrator declared Pluto a planet once again” stated Bridenstine.

Pluto Controversy Continues

It’s worth noting that there is some debate and controversy surrounding the reclassification of Pluto, as some scientists and members of the public continue to view it as a planet. However, the official scientific classification remains “dwarf planet” as recognized by the IAU.

Pluto Flyby Anniversary

The Great Conjunction of Planets – Jupiter and Saturn – December 2020

Zoron11 NASA, The Planets, The Solar System December 20, 2020December 23, 2020conjunction of planets, jupiter, Planets, saturn

The Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn

Jupiter and Saturn have been travelling across the sky together this month but right now they are really putting on a show. You can see them in the western sky, very low, each evening for an hour after sunset. A conjunction will occur every 20 years this century but this one is called a “great conjunction”.

On 21st December 2020, the two planets were approximately 1/10 of a degree apart. They will not appear this close in the sky again until the year 2080.

The last time that these two planets were visible across the earth was on 5^th March in the year 1226, when they were even closer compared to what we will see this year.

If you have binoculars or a small telescope you will be able to see both Jupiter and Saturn along with Jupiter’s moons.

If you would like to see the moons of Jupiter, train your telescope on Jupiter that night, and if there are no clouds, three of the four famous Galilean satellites will be visible. The moons of Jupiter that will be visible are Callisto, Io and Europa.

On one side of Jupiter, you’ll see its volcanic moon, Io (closest to Jupiter’s disk) and second-largest moon, Callisto. On the other side of Jupiter will be Ganymede, Jupiter’s largest moon. As for Europa, it will be in transit, crossing in front of Jupiter, so cannot be seen.

This could be a “once in a lifetime opportunity” to see the Great Conjunction of the planets Saturn and Jupiter. The planets will be visible until the end of January 2021.

In this photo, taken with a cell phone in Australia, the two planets can be clearly seen

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