What is a dwarf planet?
Q: What is a dwarf planet?
A: A dwarf planet is an object orbiting the Sun that is big enough to round itself by its own gravity, but has not cleared its orbital path of other rival bodies.
Q: When was the definition of a dwarf planet created?
A: The definition of a dwarf planet was created on August 24, 2006 by the International Astronomical Union (IAU).
Q: Who named Pluto?
A: Pluto was named by an 11-year-old girl because it was the initials of the astronomer who found it.
Q: How many known dwarf planets are there in our solar system?
A: There are nine known dwarf planets in our solar system. They are Ceres, Orcus, Pluto, Haumea, Quaoar, Makemake, Gonggong, Eris and Sedna.
Q: Where can most of these objects be found?
A: Most of these objects can be found in the trans-Neptune region or Kuiper belt.
Q: What missions have been sent to observe some of these objects?
A: NASA's Dawn and New Horizons missions reached Ceres and Pluto respectively in 2015. Dawn had already orbited and observed Vesta in 2011.
