Understanding Pluto's Status

Who discovered Pluto and in what year?

• Galileo Galilei in 1610

• Clyde Tombaugh in 1930

• Isaac Newton in 1687

• Albert Einstein in 1905

What is one reason scientists debated Pluto's status as a planet?

• Pluto has more moons than Jupiter

• Pluto is closer to the Sun than Mercury

• Pluto's orbit intersects Neptune's

• Pluto is larger than Earth

What was the name of the object discovered in 2005 that was larger than Pluto?

• Ceres

• Eris

• Makemake

• Haumea

According to the new rules, which criterion does Pluto fail to meet to be considered a planet?

• It is not round

• It does not orbit the Sun

• It has not cleared its orbital neighborhood

• It is not made of gas

What is the new classification given to Pluto?

• Asteroid

• Dwarf planet

• Comet

• Gas giant