Ever since its discovery in 1930 Pluto was considered a planet. In 2006, around 2,500 scientists met in Prague and voted to strip Pluto of its status as our solar system’s ninth planet.

The astronomers said Pluto was too small and failed to dominate its orbit around the Sun in the same way as the other planets do.

The International Astronomical Union's (IAU) decision meant textbooks now must describe our Solar System with just eight planets! Pluto will be referred to as a "dwarf planet”. 

© 2007 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)