Dwarf planets are much smaller than planets, they do not clear their orbits of debris and are usually found in areas beyond Neptune’s orbit known as the Kuiper Belt or Oort Cloud. This means that while planetary bodies have traditionally been considered to be eight in number, there could now be many more if all dwarf planets were included in this count.
Dwarf Planets
A dwarf planet is a celestial object that orbits around the sun, and has enough mass to be spherical, but does not clear its orbit of other debris. In other words, a dwarf planet is not considered a full-fledged planet because it does not have the ability to sweep its orbit clean of other objects. Dwarf planets are typically much smaller than full-fledged planets, and they have different physical and orbital characteristics.
Planets
(Photo By Climate State On Flickr)
Planets are celestial objects that orbit the sun, are spherical in shape, and have cleared their orbits of other debris. This means that planets have enough mass and gravity to pull in and hold onto other objects in their orbits, preventing them from colliding with other objects. Planets are much larger than dwarf planets, and they have more complex physical and orbital characteristics.
The Difference Between Dwarf Planets and Planets
Dwarf planets are usually much smaller than full-fledged planets. For example, Pluto is only about two-thirds the size of Mercury. And while dwarf planets can have moons, they don’t always have them; Haumea, for instance, doesn’t have any known moons orbiting it.
One of the main differences between dwarf planets and regular planets is that dwarf planets are not cleared of debris in their orbit around the Sun. That means that there’s often a lot of asteroids and other space rocks orbiting close to them. In contrast, regular planets like Earth have had all their nearby debris cleared out by gravitational forces over time.
A dwarf planet is not a miniaturized version of a planet. In fact, the two types of celestial bodies have very different classification criteria. While all planets orbit around stars, not all dwarf planets do. Dwarf planets are also much smaller than planets and don’t have the same geologic features (such as mountains). Finally, whereas there are only eight planets in our solar system, there are potentially thousands of dwarf planets.
Scientists believe that there are many more dwarf planets in our Solar System waiting to be discovered. With advances in technology, it’s becoming easier for astronomers to spot these small worlds out in the vastness of space.
Size Difference
One of the most noticeable differences between dwarf planets and planets is their size. Dwarf planets are much smaller than planets, and they are usually less than a thousand kilometers in diameter. Some of the most well-known dwarf planets in our solar system include Pluto, Ceres, Haumea, Makemake, and Eris. Planets, on the other hand, are much larger, with some of the largest, like Jupiter and Saturn, having diameters of over 100,000 kilometers.
Composition Difference
Another key difference between dwarf planets and planets is their composition. Dwarf planets are typically made of a mixture of ice and rock, while planets are made of a much wider variety of materials, including rock, gas, and metal. This difference in composition is a result of the different environments in which the objects formed and evolved. Dwarf planets formed in the outer reaches of the solar system, where there was more ice and fewer volatile materials. Planets, on the other hand, formed closer to the sun, where there was a wider variety of materials available.
Location Difference
Dwarf planets and planets also differ in terms of their location within the solar system. Dwarf planets are typically located in the outer reaches of the solar system, in an area known as the Kuiper Belt. Planets, on the other hand, are located closer to the sun, with the exception of Neptune, which is the farthest planet from the sun.
Classification by Scientists
Scientists have classified dwarf planets and planets based on their physical and orbital characteristics. In 2006, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) officially defined a planet as a celestial object that orbits the sun, is spherical in shape, and has cleared its orbit of other debris. Based on this definition, there are only eight planets in our solar system: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. All other celestial objects, including dwarf planets, are considered something other than planets.
Why are there Dwarf Planets?
The International Astronomical Union (IAU) classifies planets and dwarf planets. A “dwarf planet” is a planetary-mass object that is in orbit around the Sun, has not cleared its neighborhood of other material, and is not a satellite. There are currently five IAU-listed dwarf planets: Ceres, Pluto, Haumea, Makemake, and Eris.
The IAU General Assembly took place in Prague in August 2006. At this meeting, the IAU resolved that a “planet” must satisfy three conditions to be included in that category: it must orbit the Sun; it must be massive enough for its gravity to pull it into a nearly spherical shape; and it must have “cleared the neighborhood” around its orbit. This last condition was intended to define “planets” within our own Solar System and exclude natural satellites such as Earth’s Moon.
Since 2006, an ongoing scientific debate has taken place about whether this third condition—clearing one’s orbit—is really necessary to classify something as a “planet.” Some scientists argue that it should not be required because there are many objects in our Solar System (e.g., asteroids) that share orbits with larger planets but are not themselves massive enough to clear their orbits. These scientists would prefer a more inclusive definition of “planet” that would include objects like Ceres and Pluto.
What makes a planet a dwarf planet?
There are a few things that make a planet a dwarf planet. First, it must be in orbit around the sun. Second, it must have enough mass to be spherical in shape. Third, it must not have cleared the neighborhood around its orbit. And fourth, it must not be a moon.
Why is Pluto no longer a planet?
One reason is that Pluto is much smaller than the other planets in our solar system. In fact, it’s about 1/5 the size of Earth’s moon! Additionally, Pluto doesn’t have enough gravity to clear its orbit of debris, which is one of the key criteria for being classified as a “planet.”
So, why exactly was Pluto downgraded from a planet to a “dwarf planet?” In 2006, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) created a new definition for the word “planet.” According to this definition, a planet must meet three criteria:
- It must orbit around the sun.
- It must be massive enough to have pulled itself into a spherical shape.
- It must have cleared its orbit of debris.
Since Pluto does not meet the third criterion, it is now considered a dwarf planet.
What are the planets in the solar system?
The solar system is made up of the sun and its planets. There are eight planets in total, which are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. In order of distance from the sun, they are:
- Mercury: The smallest and closest to the sun, Mercury is only slightly bigger than Earth’s moon. It has a very thin atmosphere and no moons.
- Venus: The second planet from the sun, Venus is nearly as big as Earth and is the hottest planet in the solar system. It has a thick atmosphere of carbon dioxide and sulfuric acid clouds. Venus does not have any moons.
- Earth: The third planet from the sun, Earth is where we live. It is the largest of the terrestrial planets and has one moon.
- Mars: The fourth planet from the sun, Mars is smaller than Earth and has a very thin atmosphere. It has two small moons, Phobos and Deimos.
- Jupiter: The fifth planet from the sun, Jupiter is by far the largest planet in the solar system. It has a thick atmosphere of hydrogen and helium gas with clouds of ammonia crystals. Jupiter has 79 known moons!
- Saturn: The sixth planet from the sun, Saturn is almost as big as Jupiter but much less dense. It has a hazy atmosphere of hydrogen and helium gas with clouds of ammonia crystals like Jupiter’s. Saturn has 62 known moons, including Titan which is
- Uranus: Uranus is the seventh planet from the sun and is the third largest planet in our solar system. It is a gas giant with a unique axial tilt of nearly 98 degrees, meaning it rotates nearly perpendicular to its orbit.
- Neptune: Neptune is the eighth planet from the sun and is similar in size and composition to Uranus. It is also a gas giant and is known for its very strong winds, which are the fastest of any planet in our solar system. Its blue color is due to the presence of methane in its atmosphere.
What is the largest planet?
Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system. It is a gas giant, meaning it is composed primarily of hydrogen and helium gas. It has a diameter of about 86,881 miles (139,822 km) at its equator, which is over 11 times larger than the Earth’s diameter. Jupiter has a very strong magnetic field and is also known for its large system of moons and distinctive red spot, a massive storm that has raged for hundreds of years. Its immense size and gravity has also made it a key player in the formation and evolution of our solar system, as it likely played a role in preventing other objects from coming together to form a second sun.
How many moons does Jupiter have?
Jupiter has 79 known moons. Here are names of 10
- Ganymede
- Callisto
- Io
- Europa
- Amalthea
- Himalia
- Elara
- Lysithea
- Ananke
- Thebe
What is the smallest planet?
Mercury is the smallest planet in our solar system. It is the closest planet to the sun and has a rocky, heavily cratered surface. It has a diameter of about 3,032 miles (4,880 km), which is less than half that of Earth’s diameter. Mercury is also the fastest planet, taking just 88 Earth days to complete one orbit around the sun. Despite its small size and proximity to the sun, it has a surprisingly large iron core, which takes up about 42% of its total volume. This has led scientists to believe that its formation was shaped by a large impact with another object early in its history.
What are the dwarf planets?
Here are the five officially recognized dwarf planets, along with brief descriptions:
-
- Pluto: Pluto was once considered the ninth planet of our solar system, but was later reclassified as a dwarf planet. It is the largest dwarf planet and has a unique orbit that takes it inside the orbit of Neptune.
- Eris: Eris is a dwarf planet located in the Kuiper Belt, a region beyond Neptune that is home to many icy bodies. It is one of the largest dwarf planets known and is similar in size to Pluto.
- Haumea: Haumea is a dwarf planet located in the Kuiper Belt. It has a unique shape that is elongated, like a rugby ball. It is also one of the fastest rotating objects in our solar system.
- Makemake: Makemake is a dwarf planet located in the Kuiper Belt. It is similar in size to Pluto and has a relatively bright surface, thought to be covered in frozen methane.
- Ceres: Ceres is the largest object in the asteroid belt, located between Mars and Jupiter. It was the first object classified as a dwarf planet, and is considered both a dwarf planet and an asteroid. It is also the only dwarf planet located in the inner solar system.
What is the largest dwarf planet?
Pluto is the largest dwarf planet in our solar system. It was once considered the ninth planet, but was later reclassified as a dwarf planet due to its smaller size and the discovery of other similar objects in the Kuiper Belt region beyond Neptune. Pluto has a diameter of about 1,475 miles (2,377 km), making it smaller than several moons in our solar system. Despite its small size, Pluto has a complex and fascinating geology, with mountains of ice, frozen plains, and a subsurface ocean that may still exist today. It also has five known moons, the largest of which is Charon. Due to its distance from the sun and its small size, it has a very cold and icy surface, with temperatures that can reach as low as minus 375 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 225 degrees Celsius).
What is the smallest dwarf planet?
Ceres is the smallest dwarf planet in our solar system, and it is also the largest object in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Ceres has a diameter of about 590 miles (940 km), making it about one third the size of Pluto, the largest dwarf planet. Ceres is a rocky, icy body that has a relatively smooth surface with few craters, suggesting that geological activity has taken place on its surface. In 2015, the Dawn spacecraft discovered evidence of water ice and evidence of a subsurface ocean on Ceres, making it one of the most important objects in the study of the early solar system and the potential for life beyond Earth.
Which planet is hottest?
There are eight planets in the solar system, and each one has its own unique climate. The planet closest to the sun, Mercury, is also the hottest planet in the solar system. Mercury’s surface temperatures can reach up to 800 degrees Fahrenheit! That’s hot enough to melt some metals.
Venus is the second planet from the sun, and it is also very hot. However, Venus’ atmosphere is much thicker than Mercury’s, so it doesn’t experience the same extreme temperatures as its neighboring planet. Instead, Venus has an average surface temperature of about 860 degrees Fahrenheit.
Earth is the third planet from the sun, and it has a moderate climate compared to other planets in the solar system. Earth’s average surface temperature is about 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
Mars is the fourth planet from the sun, and it is colder than Earth. Mars’ average surface temperature is only about 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
Jupiter is the fifth planet from the sun, and it has a very cold climate. Jupiter’s average surface temperature is about -234 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s even colder than Earth’s North Pole!
Saturn is the sixth planet from the sun, and it also has a cold climate. Saturn’s average surface temperature is about -288 degrees Fahrenheit.
Uranus is the seventh planet from the sun, and it has an even colder climate than Saturn. Uranus’ average surface temperature is about -371 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s close to
Frequently asked questions about dwarf planets and planets?
How many galaxies are there?
There are an estimated 100 to 200 billion galaxies in the observable universe. Galaxies come in a variety of sizes and shapes, from small dwarf galaxies with as few as 10 million stars to giant elliptical galaxies with one trillion stars.
What is the coldest known planet?
There are many planets in our solar system and beyond that are incredibly cold. The coldest known planet is actually a dwarf planet located in our solar system. This planet, called Pluto, has an average surface temperature of -229 degrees Celsius. That’s almost four times colder than Earth’s average surface temperature!
Can dwarf planets have water?
Yes, dwarf planets can have water, but it is unlikely. Most known dwarf planets are located in the outer solar system, beyond the “snow line” where water freezes. Some models suggest that there may be a population of icy dwarf planets in the inner solar system as well, but none have been found yet.
What is the closest dwarf planet to earth?
The closest dwarf planet to Earth is Ceres. It is located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Ceres is about one-third the size of Earth and has a diameter of about 950 kilometers.
Why is Moon not a dwarf planet?
There are a few key reasons why Moon is not a dwarf planet. Firstly, Moon does not orbit around the Sun, instead it orbits Earth. Secondly, Moon is much smaller than most dwarf planets – only about a quarter the size of Mercury. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, Moon does not have enough gravity to pull itself into a spherical shape. Dwarf planets are large enough and have enough gravity to do this.
Why is Jupiter a dwarf planet?
Jupiter is much smaller than Earth—about one-tenth the size. Additionally, Jupiter doesn’t have enough mass to account for its gravity; instead, much of its mass comes from the gas and dust that make up its atmosphere. Finally, Jupiter doesn’t orbit alone in space; it shares its orbit with many other objects, including asteroids and comets. All of these factors contribute to why Jupiter is classified as a dwarf planet.
Can a dwarf planet have a moon?
Yes, a dwarf planet can have a moon. In fact, many of the known dwarf planets in our solar system have one or more moons. For example, Pluto has five moons, Eris has one moon, and Haumea has two moons.
Featured Image By – Photo by Guillermo Ferla on Unsplash
