Here are some more possible dwarf planets ... all those in blue are at least as big as Ceres.
And just where is the line between the largest dwarf planet and the smallest regular planet? Why do I feel like this is the freak show in a carnival? "See the worlds tallest midget!"
Well, since Pluto *is* the smallest regular planet... :-) Or at least it always will be to me.
Has anyone let Mickey know that Pluto is now a Dwarf? I hear Doc and Sleepy are OK with it but Happy is now Grumpy about it. This is getting down right Goofy if you ask me.
This is apparently the qualifications for dwarf planet
From wiki
The resolution describes a dwarf planet as an object that:
* Is in orbit around the Sun
* Has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round) shape
* Has not "cleared the neighbourhood" around its orbit
* Is not a satellite of a planet, or other nonstellar body
This is the qualifier the separates dwarf planets from the standard planets.
* Has not "cleared the neighbourhood" around its orbit
There are a LOT of other bodies around Ceres (Asteroid Belt), Pluto (plutinos and twotino bodies / KBO's), and Eris (Scattered Disk Objects / Kupier Belt Objects
|
Name |
Category |
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2005 FY9 ("Easterbunny") |
|
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2003 EL61 ("Santa") |
|
Ping to RadioAstronomer as well ... he knows this stuff a lot better than anyone else here.
Here are some more possible dwarf planets ... all those in blue are at least as big as Ceres.
"And just where is the line between the largest dwarf planet and the smallest regular planet? "
Jumbo Shrimp!