Officially, Pluto is no longer a planet, which means that our solar system is now composed of just eight planets—a fact that we have to get used to from now on. This was the decision arrived at in a meeting by the International Astronomical Union last Thursday.

Last week, International Astronomical Union, the one responsible for naming planets and other celestial bodies, recommended that in order for a celestial body to be considered a planet, it must be round and should orbit the sun. Astronomers present at the meeting, however rejected such definition. After thoroughly and scientifically deliberating on the issue, the astronomers agreed to reclassify Pluto as a dwarf planet to put a closure to the long-time debate on what a planet is. The debate was ignited last year by the discovery of the UB313, a planet-like object.

Pluto, previously known as the farthest of all the planets, was discovered seventy six years ago by Clyde Tombaugh. As defined by the astronomers, Pluto is now “a celestial body that is in orbit around the sun, has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces” and “has cleared the neighbourhood around its orbit.”

By Khristine