The Dwarf Planet Debate

(picture of the colorization of Pluto)

We all know the controversy that Pluto causes. Should it be a planet? Should it not be one? Why should or shouldn’t it be? 

Although astronomers and other scientists claim that Pluto should not be considered a planet, some researches believe that this decision was unfair and incorrect and that we should reconsider Pluto to be a planet in our solar system. 

So why isn’t Pluto considered a planet? Well, according to Tom Metcalfe, a Planet must have three requirements: 1. Must be spherical, 2. Must orbit the sun, and 3. Must have gravitationally “cleared its orbit” of others planets. Pluto fulfills 2/3 of these requirements, but it does not fulfill the last requirement. Pluto shares its orbit with other objects (“plutinos”).

So if this is true, and Pluto does not fulfill the requirements for having the title of a planet, then why do researchers believe that Pluto should be considered a planet again? These researchers state that a previous definition, created in the 16th century, of a planet being “any geological active body in space”. But if this definition was used to classify “planets” rather than the previous three requirements, this would mean that over 150 objects in our solar system would be our “planets”.

So many things need to be considered before making this decision. Will Pluto become our 9th planet again, or will it stay outcasted as just a Dwarf Planet?