Space/Science — HabitableZone

Space/Science » in reply to Many Properties Are Distance Dependent.

re: The report

IAU.

"planet" is defined as a celestial body that (a) is in orbit around the Sun, (b) has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round) shape, and (c) has cleared the neighbourhood around its orbit.

If we take a and b, Ceres and Pluto (and possibly other worlds too) are planet.
But there's c. It' true many disagree no world has completely cleared its neighbourhood. But should we say then: "has mostly cleared its neighbourhood"? After all, most EGAs are in chaotic orbits and will sooner or later hit planets or the Moon. And Ceres as well as Pluto are the largest representatives of their respective families (asteroids and KBOs). Pluto would never have been called a planet had it been discovered after Kuyper theorized about those objects.

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