Small Bodies and Dwarf Planets Question
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Imagine a new object is discovered in the solar system. It is orbiting the Sun at a distance of 2.8 AU. The object is known to be of sufficient mass to be spherical in shape. Would this object be classified as a planet or a dwarf planet?
- Planet, it meets all three criteria necessary to be classified as a planet
- Planet, any object that is spherical and is in orbit around the Sun is a planet.
- Dwarf Planet, it meets the first two criteria for a planet, but it orbits in the asteroid belt, so it does not meet the third criteria.
- Dwarf Planet, it meets the first two criteria for a planet, but it orbits in the Kuiper Belt, so it does not meet the third criteria.