Category Archives: Dwarf Planets

includes Pluto, Eris, Ceres, Sedna, etc.

Ceres: Smallest Dwarf Planet or Biggest Asteroid?

In 1801, Ceres was discovered by Father Giuseppe Piazzi, who believed it to be a planet or “new star.” Originally, Ceres was classified as a planet. However, after more objects were discovered in the asteroid belt, Ceres was demoted to an asteroid in the 1850s. Today, Ceres is classified as a dwarf planet. Ceres is … Continue reading Ceres: Smallest Dwarf Planet or Biggest Asteroid? Continue reading

Posted in Dwarf Planets | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Ceres: Smallest Dwarf Planet or Biggest Asteroid?

The Giant Red Whale

In 2015, scientists discovered what they call the giant red whale on Pluto’s surface. This is simply a red part of Pluto that vaguely takes the shape of a whale. Their theory is that it was created by a giant impactor, most likely the same one that lead to Charon, Pluto’s large moon. We knew … Continue reading The Giant Red Whale Continue reading

Posted in Dwarf Planets, SolarSystem | Tagged , | Comments Off on The Giant Red Whale

Here’s Some Information About Pluto So It Feels Less Rejected

While Earthlings seem to have a general adoration (borderline obsession) with the personified Pluto, the planet itself does present several scientific marvels and interests. One such fascinating feature of Pluto is in it’s region known as Sputnik Planum. This weirdly smooth section of the planet is segmented into cellular units, and a proposed reason for… Continue reading Here’s Some Information About Pluto So It Feels Less Rejected Continue reading

Posted in Class, Dwarf Planets | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Here’s Some Information About Pluto So It Feels Less Rejected

Pluto is a Planet Again!

April fools! I know I am a day late with this, but I was surprised to find that this was a common thread appearing on my Facebook feed over the weekend. As is common when “news” appears on social media, an “article” was being passed around that seemingly few people even bothered to read. Instead, the headline […] Continue reading

Posted in Class, Dwarf Planets | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Pluto is a Planet Again!

Pluto the Dwarf Planet

Many of us remember Pluto as the used-to-be 9th planet in our solar system that was demoted to a dwarf planet. So what makes Pluto a dwarf planet and not a planet? What is interesting about Pluto, and, if it was so small, how exactly was it discovered earlier than other dwarf planets? Continue reading

Posted in Class, Dwarf Planets, Historical, SolarSystem | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Pluto the Dwarf Planet

Pluto: Planet or Dwarf Planet?

This is the excerpt for your very first post. Continue reading

Posted in Dwarf Planets | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Pluto: Planet or Dwarf Planet?

Pluto’s Kind Heart

  Pluto has been a topic of fascination for astronomers for a long time now. With the recent flyby of the New Horizons Spacecraft, a new image of Pluto has captivated the world. Pluto has a heart. Well not actually a heart but a region that looks like a heart! I guess Pluto is really […] Continue reading

Posted in Class, Dwarf Planets, General, Science | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Pluto’s Kind Heart

Sleipnir Fossa, Pluto’s “Giant Spider” Fracture

Pluto may have had its planet status revoked, but astronomers are still studying its surface through images captured by the NASA New Horizon’s spacecraft. In the last week, images and information about one of Pluto’s most recently discovered features was released.   Sleipnir Fossa and related fractures in an image captured by New Horizons on 14 July […] Continue reading

Posted in Class, Dwarf Planets | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Sleipnir Fossa, Pluto’s “Giant Spider” Fracture

Charon: The Major Key to Pluto

Up until very recently, Pluto was considered the ninth planet of our solar system. That all changed when the definition of a planet was revised, and Pluto just became another Kuiper belt object albeit the most famous one. We know significantly more about Pluto than any other Kuiper belt object simply because it was discovered … Continue reading “Charon: The Major Key to Pluto” Continue reading

Posted in Dwarf Planets, Universe | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Charon: The Major Key to Pluto

The Dwarf Planet Sedna

According to Inuit mythology, Sedna was the name of a mortal woman who became a goddess of the ocean and the underworld. One version of the myth holds that Sedna was a young woman who consented to marry a hunter, only to find, once she had left home with him, that he was in fact […] Continue reading

Posted in Class, Dwarf Planets | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on The Dwarf Planet Sedna