When was Pluto demoted to a dwarf planet?
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In 2006, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) demoted the much-loved Pluto from its position as the ninth planet from the Sun to one of five “dwarf planets.”
The IAU, an organization that governs international professional astronomical activities worldwide, determined a planet must meet three criteria: It orbits around the sun, it is a spherical shape and it is big enough that its gravity cleared away any other objects of a similar size near its orbit.
Pluto only meets two of the criteria required to be a planet. Because it is not gravitationally dominant, Pluto is considered a dwarf planet.
On Aug. 24, 2006, the International Astronomical Union voted to strictly define a planet, which ultimately downgraded Pluto from the ninth planet from the sun to a dwarf planet — causing controversy both scientifically and culturally.