Pluto has a shape that is nearly round, and it orbits the Sun. It has five known moons. Why is it called a dwarf planet and not a planet?
Because of its small size.
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Pluto is classified as a dwarf planet because of its specific characteristics and the criteria set by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) for defining planets. In 2006, the IAU redefined the definition of a planet, and Pluto did not meet all the necessary criteria to be considered a planet anymore.
According to the IAU's definition, a planet must meet three requirements:
1. The object must orbit the Sun.
2. The object must be massive enough to be in hydrostatic equilibrium, meaning it has enough self-gravity to pull itself into a round or nearly round shape.
3. The object must have cleared its orbit of other debris.
While Pluto meets the first two requirements, it fails to meet the third condition. There are other numerous objects similar to Pluto in its vicinity known as the Kuiper Belt, which is a region of the solar system that contains small icy bodies. These objects share Pluto's orbit and have not been cleared from its neighborhood. Therefore, according to the IAU's definition, Pluto is classified as a dwarf planet, along with other similar objects in the Kuiper Belt.
It's important to note that this classification does not diminish Pluto's significance or importance in any way. It simply reflects the scientific understanding and categorization of celestial bodies based on specific criteria.