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Article: Solar System Update.
- Article from:
- Science Scope
- Article date:
- April 1, 2006
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2006 National Science Teachers Association. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Byline: Bob Riddle
This is an artist's impression of noontime on Sedna, the farthest known planetoid from the Sun.
During the 20-year period from 1979 to 1999, it was not unusual for solar system savvy students to ask their teacher to name the most distant planet from the Sun. At that time, due to its inclination and eccentric orbit, Pluto was closer to the Sun than the planet Neptune. Pluto is now back at its position as the ninth planet, and will remain so for the next 230 years or so, until its orbital path again brings it closer to the Sun than Neptune. But is Pluto really the ninth planet, or even a planet at all? Is Pluto actually a member of a ...