ESO : Three new planets?

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 Three new planets? [artist's impression]

The world's astronomers, under the auspices of the International Astronomical Union (IAU), have concluded two years of work defining the lower end of the planet scale - what defines the difference between "planets" and "solar system bodies". If the definition is approved by the astronomers gathered 14-25 August 2006 at the IAU General Assembly in Prague, three of the bodies in the Solar System will be assigned new status as planets: Ceres, Charon (Pluto's companion) and 2003 UB₃₁₃. There is no change in the planetary status of Pluto.

In this artist's impression the planets are drawn to scale, but without correct relative distances.

Credit: The International Astronomical Union/Martin Kornmesser

Also see our

• images on eso.org
• images on astronomy2009.org
• images on spacetelescope.org

ESO
Guillermo Gonzalo Sánchez Achutegui
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