Dwarf Planets

                        Dwarf Planets

The General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) put forward a new definition for planets in August 2006. According to this a planet must be massive enough to have been pulled into a spherical shape by its own gravity. It must dominate its surrounding bodies by clearing out other celestial bodies from its orbital path. Also a planet must have a definite orbital path around a star, while not being a star.

Based on these concepts Pluto cannot be considered as a planet and thus it is demoted from the status of a planet to a 'dwarf planet'. Ceres and UB313, two largest rocky bodies orbiting the Sun between Mars and Jupiter are also included in dwarf planets. Smaller objects such as asteroids and comets are called "Small Solar System Bodies." UB313 is called Xena, yet it has not been given a proper name and more details have not been found out.