Q. Which of the following has been defined as dwarf planets in solar system?
- Pluto
- Ceres
- Makemake
Select the correct option from the codes given below:
Answer:
1, 2 & 3
Notes: All the eight planets of the solar system move around the sun in fixed paths. These paths are elongated. They are called orbits. Mercury is nearest to the sun. It takes only about 88 days to complete one round along its orbit. Till recently (August 2006), Pluto was also considered a planet. However, in a meeting of the International Astronomical Union, a decision was taken that Pluto like other celestial objects discovered in recent past may be called a ‘dwarf planet.’
Note: A dwarf planet is a celestial body orbiting the Sun that is massive enough to be rounded by its own gravity but has not cleared its neighbouring region of planetesimals and is not a satellite. By this definition, the Solar System has five known dwarf planets: Ceres, Pluto, Haumea, Makemake, and Eris. Other objects may be classified in the future as dwarf planets, such as Sedna, Orcus, and Quaoar. Dwarf planets that orbit in the trans-Neptunian region are called “plutoids”.The remainder of the objects in orbit around the Sun are small Solar System bodies.