Free "Is Pluto a Planet?" fact sheet for teachers online
Paul Schlyter writes:
That fact sheet "forgets" to mention the fact that Ceres, Pallas, Juno and Vesta
were considered to be "planets" during the first half of the 1800's.
And all of the 1900s. And the first few years of the 2000s.
Then a large number of additional asteroids were discovered, and Ceres, Pallas,
Juno and Vesta lost their planetary status.
Incorrect; they were called "minor" planets. That does not constitute loss
of planetary status. It constitutes loss of "major" planetary status. There's
a big difference.
But 150 years into the future, people will be used to Pluto not being a planet,
just like we today are used to Ceres, Pallas, Juno, Vesta not being planets.
On the contrary, those asteroids have not been planets for only a few months.
How can you say we're used to it already? Heck, the Minor Planet Center hasn't
even changed its name to the Small Solar System Bodies Center yet.
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