Dwarf planet

DWARF PLANET

•         In 2006 the International Astronomical Union (IAU) approved a new classification scheme for planets and smaller objects in our Solar System.

Their scheme includes three classes of objects:

(1)      "small solar system bodies" (including most asteroids and comets)

(2)      “much larger planets” (including Earth, Jupiter, and so on)

(3)      “in-between sized dwarf planets".

Figure 15: Pluto

•         Pluto, formerly the smallest of the nine "traditional" planets is now considered as a dwarf planet.