Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Julia Musto

NASA Administrator thinks Pluto should be a planet

  • NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman has expressed his desire for Pluto to be reclassified as a planet, nearly two decades after its demotion.
  • Pluto lost its status as the solar system's ninth planet in 2006, when the International Astronomical Union (IAU) defined it as a dwarf planet.
  • The scientific community remains divided, with some experts arguing that Pluto's characteristics, such as its atmosphere, active geology, and moons, warrant planetary status.
  • Conversely, other scientists and the IAU maintain that the current classification is accurate, noting that Pluto is the leading object of a new family of solar system bodies.
  • Despite ongoing debate and public sentiment, an official reclassification of Pluto would require the backing of the IAU, which currently appears unlikely.

IN FULL

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.