Is Pluto a Planet Again in 2024?

No, Pluto is not a planet again in 2024.

While there's ongoing discussion and debate among astronomers about redefining what constitutes a planet, these discussions haven't resulted in Pluto being reclassified as a planet. The current definition, established by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in 2006, excludes Pluto.

Here's a breakdown of the situation:

• The Current Definition: The IAU definition requires a planet to:

  1. Orbit the Sun.
  2. Be massive enough to be rounded by its own gravity.
  3. Have "cleared its neighborhood" of other objects.

• Why Pluto Fails: Pluto meets the first two criteria but not the third. It shares its orbital space with numerous other Kuiper Belt objects.

• Potential Redefinitions: Some astronomers propose alternative definitions that could potentially reclassify Pluto and other celestial bodies as planets. One recent proposal, as highlighted in July 2024, would focus more on the intrinsic properties of the object rather than its orbital characteristics. However, these are just proposals and have not been adopted by the IAU.

• Impact of Redefinition: Even if a new definition were adopted, the article suggests it wouldn't necessarily bring Pluto back into the planetary fold specifically but would instead reclassify thousands of celestial bodies across the universe.

In short, while the conversation about what constitutes a planet continues, as of 2024, Pluto remains classified as a dwarf planet.