History of Planet Pluto

Status of Pluto as a planet

Pluto is actually found because of the theory of the ninth planet in the solar system. After Clyde Tombaugh able to show tangible evidence in his research, Pluto finally officially become one planet that determine this galaxy rotation. When Pluto was discovered, he was known as the only celestial object that was after Neptune. Then, Charon, Pluto satellites mistaken for an actual planet. Finally, the presence of satellite Charon This further reinforces the status of Pluto as a planet

However, the astronomers then found about 1,000 other small objects behind Neptune (called trans-Neptunian objects) are also around the Sun. There may be about 100,000 similar objects known as the Kuiper Belt objects (Kuiper Belt is part of the object-trans-Neptunian objects). Dozens of celestial bodies including the Kuiper Belt Object Quaoar (1250 miles in June 2002), Huya (750 km in March 2000), Sedna (1,800 km in March 2004), Orcus, Vesta, Pallas, Hygiea, Varuna and Haumea (1500 km in May 2004).

The discovery of 2003 EL61 is horrendous because this Kuiper Belt object known to also have a satellite in January 2005, although smaller than Pluto. And the climax is the discovery of UB 313 (2700 miles in October 2003), named Xena by its discoverer. In addition to larger than Pluto, it also has a satellite object.

Pluto itself, with a strange orbit prolonged, has a more similar behavior Kuiper Belt objects rather than a planet, thus assuming some astronomers. Pluto's elliptical orbit that overlaps with Neptune's orbit. Its orbit around the Sun is also too pronounced than eight objects were classified as a planet. Pluto's size is also very small, even smaller than the Moon, so it is too small to be called planets.

After Tombaugh's death in 1997, some astronomers suggested that the International Astronomical Union, the body in charge of naming and classification of celestial bodies, demoted Pluto no longer a planet. In addition, some astronomers still want to accept Pluto as a planet. The reason, Pluto has a circular shape like planet, while comets and asteroids tend to form irregular. Pluto also has seasons like the atmosphere and the planet. On August 24, 2006, at a meeting of the International Astronomical Union, astronomy 3,000 scientists decided to change the status of Pluto to "dwarf planet" along with a number of other celestial bodies.

The origin of the name

Regarding this issue had been controversial. Because the parties had made a lot of mutual disagreement. Many say the name comes from the character of the dog in the comic Walt Disney. The fact that the comic debuted in the same year with the discovery of a celestial body is the man widely believed to be one reason.

Name Pluto is also the name of a god of Roman civilization that controls the world of the dead (Hades in Greek culture). This name was given probably because the celestial body is as dark and cold as gods, as well as the mystery that enveloped him.

Apparently a lot of other names who've refused to name the new planet. One is Minerva, which means goddess of knowledge. The reason is obvious, because the name is already used for something else. Then there is the name Constante, referring to the name of the founder of the observatory where Clyde worked, Constante Lowell. But Lowell also rejected the name slowly.

Forum for researchers

One of the serious research eventually held also to see Pluto, the U.S. party research through NASA, which sends a set of drones to list Pluto's surface area, the characteristics of geography and geomorphology globally and find the data structure of the atmosphere surrounding Pluto.

An expedition called the Pluto Express is planned to start sliding into space in December 2004 and is scheduled to arrive at Pluto in 2008 at the latest, but the expedition was eventually canceled in 2000 due to funding problems and was replaced a new mission called New Horizons (released January 2006). This aircraft will cross Pluto and Charon, and its natural satellites then send the photographs to Earth. One of the studies that will be conducted Horizons include atmospheric problems that exist in the Pluto satellite layer. New Horizons also planned to fly to the Kuiper Belt. Until now believe Pluto possesses the most original atmosphere since separating yourself from the sun. Atmospheric layer is also known as one of the coldest layer entered a space flight mission from Earth.