NASA Chief Claims That Pluto Is Still A Planet In The Solar System

Thirteen years have passed since the day Pluto was struck off the list of official planets in the solar system. That was in 2006 when the International Astronomical Union (IAU) decided to descend the ranking of the planet. Despite this, the IAU's decision still suffers from much disagreement, and NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine is one of those disapproving. He expressed that Pluto should be considered as a planet of our solar system.

Contrary to his firm statement, there was no supporting evidence or facts shown behind. But certainly, there were many others who also support his view as well as the position that this planet deserves in the solar system.

Back to history, the controversy of whether Pluto is an official planet in the solar system became increasingly heated than ever in 2006, when the IAU set up a supporting committee. This committee set out three criteria to identify an object called a "planet". These include: 1) a constant rotation around the Sun; 2) have mass in a sphere form with its own gravity, and 3) have no surroundings around its orbit. Though numerous scientists no longer support such an incomplete definition, it eventually eliminated Pluto from the planet's list. Specifically, Pluto only met the first two requirements and failed at the last as there were many other small and icy objects in its area beyond Neptune known as the Kuiper Belt.

The debate surrounding this planet has been going on ever since. Among the biggest supporters of Pluto’s status, Alan Stern stated directly on the Washington Post that it's hard to get along with even when a number of people accept the outcome.

As such, whether it is correct to consider Pluto as a dwarf planet will probably be an appealing topic for scientists, at least for the upcoming time.