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Astro 3

1) The document discusses guidelines established by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in 2006 to define planets and dwarf planets. 2) To be considered a planet, a celestial body must orbit the sun, be spherical in shape due to gravity, and gravitationally dominate its orbital neighborhood. 3) Pluto was demoted to dwarf planet status in 2006 as it fails to gravitationally dominate its orbital neighborhood in the Kuiper belt.

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539 views

Astro 3

1) The document discusses guidelines established by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in 2006 to define planets and dwarf planets. 2) To be considered a planet, a celestial body must orbit the sun, be spherical in shape due to gravity, and gravitationally dominate its orbital neighborhood. 3) Pluto was demoted to dwarf planet status in 2006 as it fails to gravitationally dominate its orbital neighborhood in the Kuiper belt.

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Celestial Spherical Bodies – Group Task

• This is why large planets are spherical, and small asteroids keep an
irregular shape
• (Actually, a spherical shape is a qualifier for a planet)
A Planet - Question
◦What is a planet?
◦Hint: this is not an easy answer
A Planet – I.A.U – 2006!
1. Must orbit sun
2. Must have enough gravity to force it into a spherical shape
3. Its gravity must dynamically ‘dominate’ objects of similar size near its orbit
Guideline Three is Controversial!
1. Its gravity must ‘dominate’ objects of similar size near its orbit
I. Must be the “boss” of it’s neighborhood
Guideline Three Had to be Revised
• Originally it was “Its gravity must sweep out every other body in its
orbit”
• Why was this an even worse definition?
Example Answers
• This could disqualify:
• Neptune – Pluto crosses its orbit
• Earth – 15,000 asteroids in its orbital path
Meet Our Savior …
• Steven Soter (IAU) is to thank for confirming guideline three in 2007
• Though some still contest the guidelines…
A Planet – I.A.U – 2006!
1. Must orbit sun
2. Must have enough gravity to force it into a spherical shape
3. Its gravity must dynamically ‘dominate’ objects of similar size near its orbit
Planet Definition
What did these guidelines do to a famous ‘planet’?
R.I.P Planet Pluto! (Est. 1930- 2006)
• Demoted in 2006 to ‘Dwarf Planet’
• Failed guideline three. Why?
Pluto – Overview
• Located In Kuiper belt (confirmed – 1992):
• Beyond Neptune
• Busy collection of icy objects
• 100,000 objects over 100km diameter
Pluto not dominant
• Pluto only 0.07 times the mass of other objects in its orbit
• Eris (2005) is 27% more massive!
Earth – Dominant
• 1.7 million times more massive than all other asteroids in its orbit
• It’s a planet!
Pluto – Dwarf Planet
• How do we define a dwarf planet?
A Dwarf Planet – I.A.U – 2006!
1. Must orbit sun
2. Must have enough gravity to force it into a spherical shape
3. Its gravity must dynamically ‘dominate’ objects of similar size near its orbit
Interesting Dwarf Planet - Ceres
• Only recognised dwarf planet within Neptune’s orbit
• Biggest body in asteroid belt (third of all its mass)
Other Asteroids - Question
Why aren’t they dwarf planets?
Other Asteroids
They fail guideline two:
◦“Must have enough gravity to force it into a spherical shape”
◦ Pallas/Vesta - contested (oblate spheroid?)
Side Note: Asteroids can have Moons!
• In 1993, 19-mile ‘Ida’ discovered to have a tiny 1-mile moon ‘Dactyl’
• >20 more discoveries since then
Exam Question - Checkpoint
Explain the three characteristics which define a planet. Explain how a dwarf
planet is defined.(8 marks)

In you answer you must also:


◦ Discuss why ‘Pluto’ is not considered a planet
◦ Give an example of a ‘planet’ and a dwarf planet (not Pluto)
◦ Give an opinion on these guidelines for planets
◦ Are they clear? Why/why not? Discuss any unclear parts
Possible Points in Your Answer
Planet definition:
• Must orbit sun (1)
• Must have enough gravity to force it into a spherical shape (1) critical radius around 350km (1)
• Its gravity must dynamically ‘dominate’ objects of similar size near its orbit (1)
• Dwarf planet meets just the first two above points (1) Pluto is one (1)
• Earth is a planet (1) Ceres/Eris is a dwarf planet (1)

• Bad: Guideline three is possibly subjective ‘dominate’/’clear neighborhood (1)


• Bad: These guidelines were engineered backwards to give an answer (1)
• Bad: These guidelines conveniently allow for a small number of planets for school kids to remember (1)
• Good: These guidelines allow concrete definition of a planet (1)
Exam Question - Checkpoint
Classify the following bodies as ‘planet’, ‘dwarf planet’ or ‘neither’. Explain
your reasoning: Jupiter, Earth, Ceres, The Moon (12 marks)
Planet Diameter (km)
Jupiter 138,822
Earth 12,742
Moon 3,476
Ceres 946
Example Answer
• IAU planet guidelines (3) [points for writing the three guidelines]
• Dwarf planet just first two (1)

• Jupiter – planet. Meets all three guidelines (2)


• Earth – planet. Meets all three guidelines (2) Planet Diameter (km)
Jupiter 138,822
• Moon – Neither. Fails guideline one. Orbits Earth not sun (2)
Earth 12,742
• Ceres – dwarf planet. Fails only guideline three. Moon 3,476
• Only third of asteroid belt mass (2)
Ceres 946
Side Note: The Earth’s Moon
• Bigger than Pluto
• Comparable to Mercury/Titan

•Questionable guidelines?
Alan Stern (1957 – Now)
• Principal investigator - New Horizons mission to Pluto (NASA)

• Critical of planet guidelines:


• ‘Dominate’/’clear’ neighborhood - subjective
• Engineered backwards to give answer
• Allow small number of planets to be remembered

(1957 - Now)

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