On 24 August 2006, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) made a historic decision to revoke Pluto's status as a planet, reclassifying it as a "dwarf planet." This decision came after years of debate and discussion among astronomers about what constitutes a planet. The discovery of other similar-sized objects in the Kuiper Belt, such as Eris, led to a reconsideration of Pluto's classification.
Pluto, also known as "Yama" in Hindu mythology, was initially discovered in 1930 by American astronomer Clyde Tombaugh and was considered the ninth planet in our solar system. However, the IAU's new definition of a planet requires an object to meet three criteria: it must orbit the Sun, be spherical due to its own gravity, and have cleared its orbital path of other debris. While Pluto meets the first two criteria, it does not meet the third, as its orbit overlaps with that of other objects in the Kuiper Belt.
The reclassification of Pluto sparked significant public interest and debate, with many expressing disappointment over the decision. Despite losing its status as the ninth planet, Pluto remains an important object of study in astronomy and continues to capture the imagination of people worldwide. The IAU's decision also led to the formal recognition of a new category of celestial bodies, known as "dwarf planets," which includes Pluto, Eris, Haumea, Makemake, and Ceres.
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