"A planet is a celestial body that (a) has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round) shape, and (b) is in orbit around a star, and is neither a star nor a satellite of a planet."
This is the definition being voted on. Immediate members added would be Ceres, Charon, and Xena, but other candidates for consideration would be Chiron, Sedna, Quaoar, Pallas, Juno, Santa, etc, totaling 23 to39 depending on determination of a round shape.
Well, when faced with new data, science changes its formulae. That's the way it should be.
It should be noted that the entire IAU hasn't approved this definition, yet, so this might not be the adopted definition.
|