IAES Updates

Unit G, Exploring the Solar System
Activities 88, 90, 96, and 97 (references to Pluto)

On August 24, 2006, at the International Astronomical Union in Prague, Czech Republic, the scientific community revised its definition of a planet. As a result there are only eight official planets in the solar system, Pluto is now considered a dwarf planet.

Three categories of objects in our solar system are now defined:

Planets: The eight worlds from Mercury to Neptune.
Dwarf Planets: Pluto and any other round object that has not cleared the neighborhood around its orbit, and is not a satellite. This includes UB313, officially named Eris in September of 2006. Currently there are dozens of objects that fit into this category.
Small Solar System Bodies: All other objects orbiting the Sun. Reference

In the Student Book, the following pages include references to Pluto in tables: G-25, G-26, G-29, G-56.

In the Teachers Guide, the following references to Pluto should be noted: G-57, G-58, G-60.

Updated Materials for Download

Click on the following links to download updated student and teacher materials.

Student Book pages for Activities 88, 89, and 90

Teacher Guide pages for Activities 88, 89, and 900

Updated Space Object Cards

Updated Classification Card