Its a Big asteroid. A giant lump of ice that happens to orbit in a similar path to the rest of the planets was mislabeled as a planet. But now that we know more about it, it shouldn't be labeled as a planet, but a chunk of ice.
@ choaz: Calm down. Understand that repeating comments will always happen in a thread, there's no need to throw a hissy fit.
@ Flipski: Exactly my point. Pluto's a minor planet, and until it can actually fit the characteristics of a "full" planet, it will remain as such. There's no real debate that should be done
But asteroids have different orbits, than planets. Pluto orbits like another planet. We need to get better criteria for planets. In other galaxys where there could be planets big enough to make us look like pluto.
It is the size of a large Asteroid. It cleary does not meet the size standards. It is smaller than our moon for heavans sake. And of course you will say "but pluto has a moon, so it's a planet". Yeah, a moon that is aproximatley the size of a house. Also, at this point, how do you know that pluto is not the planet but the/or a moon.
The scientists declared it to no longer be a planet a year or two ago but i still consider pluto a planet because it is there, its orbiting the sun, therefor, making it a planet, have a nice day/night. =)
The name 'Dwarf Planet' better describes Pluto. Take this exaggerated example, I could call Earth a banana-shaped planet (thanks masta,) or an apple-shaped planet. Now, when you think of a banana planet, you would imagine a cresent with little blue and brown patches. When you think of an apple planet, you would imagine a spherical planet with little blue and brown (and white) patches. Which category do you think Earth belongs in?
If someone didn't know what Earth looked like, it would be misleading to call it banana-shaped. Same applies to Pluto, if someone didn't know what it looked like, calling it a planet would make that someone think it's as large as Earth.
