Introduction
Centuries of research by astronomers and scientists have yielded fascinating discoveries about the solar system, revealing that every celestial body possesses unique geological features and distinct characteristics. Building on this knowledge, this paper aims to define major and dwarf planets and outline their differences and similarities within the solar system.
Defining Major and Dwarf Planets
The definitions of dwarf and major planets can be derived from the definitive characteristics of their distinct features. According to the National Geographic Society, planets are celestial bodies that orbit the Sun in fixed orbits with self-sufficient mass, providing gravity to overcome rigid forces (Castillo-Rogez 41). There exist celestial bodies that have not been defined to be included among the solar system’s planets (Bevelacqua 277). Heated arguments still exist about what should be termed major planets and what qualifies as a dwarf planet.
The existing definition of a planet characterizes planets as bodies that orbit the Sun, have sufficient gravity to pull their mass into a sphere, and have fixed orbital paths (Erlic 376). However, if this definition should hold, other uncaptured celestial bodies qualify to be planets. For instance, Eris, Ceres, and Pluto are significantly small celestial bodies that have been deemed dwarf planets by the scientific definition today (Bevelacqua 277). For this reason, dwarf and major planets bear various similarities and differences.
Classification of Major Planets in the Solar System
Major planets include the eight celestial bodies that orbit the Sun, comprising Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Planets are not stars and, therefore, do not produce their own light but reflect light from the Sun (Erlic 364). These planets are classified into inner and outer categories.
The outer planets are large and located far from the Sun. They include Neptune, Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus. The inner planets are typically smaller and located near the Sun (Stonkutė 90). The inner planets are Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. To facilitate easier observation and study of the solar system and its components, scientists have developed various tools and mechanisms. Additionally, dwarf planets can be found orbiting between the paths of the major planets.
Characteristics and Recognition of Dwarf Planets
Dwarf planets are celestial objects that orbit the Sun and are massive enough to be flattened by their gravity. However, they do not have clear areas around them, excluding satellites. The term “dwarf” was first identified in 2006 as part of a three-way classification of bodies that orbit the Sun.
The International Astronomical Union (IAU) has recognized Pluto, Ceres, and Eris as dwarf planets. However, it is undoubtedly true that more objects in the solar system still have the same features as dwarf planets (Stonkutė 90). However, it is challenging to determine whether these bodies should be classified as dwarf planets because they are often not visible unless observed through telescopes.
Differences Between Major and Dwarf Planets
Size and Gravitational Differences Between Planets
Astrology has been significant in studying the features and characteristics of the bodies in the universe. These studies have been efficient in stating the differences between dwarf planets and major planets. As the name suggests, dwarf planets are smaller than the Earth’s Moon, while major planets are larger (Paganotti 178). These planets’ small size means they lack the gravitational forces required to accumulate and pull in materials found in their orbits (Kanodia 38).
For instance, Mercury is the smallest planet in the solar system out of the eight that remained after Pluto was classified as a dwarf planet. The size of Mercury is approximately double that of Pluto and Eris, with a diameter of about 4879.4km (Kanodia 38). Thus, the classification by size is the primary reason Pluto was classified as a dwarf planet, as Eris’ discovery prompted a similar size classification for Pluto. According to reports and images from astrological data and pictures taken in space, major planets are large (Batygin 33). They have enough mass to create a gravitational force that pulls the material along their orbital path.
Orbital Paths
Another difference between dwarf and major planets arises from the nature of the orbital path. These differences form the primary basis IAU uses to classify planets as either dwarf or main planets (Kanodia 38). Dwarf planets do not have a distinct orbital path, while major planets have a distinct path in their orbits.
In this manner, major planets orbit around the Sun without converging on the same path as another planet. Each planet has its path that it maintains throughout a complete revolution. In the case of dwarf planets such as Pluto and Eris, they do not show a distinct orbital path around the Sun.
Clearing of the Orbit
Further, planets are distinguished by the area of clarity around them as they orbit the Sun. Dwarf planets do not have a clear area around their orbit. Astrologists and satellite images do not show a clear area of vicinity like other planets (Kanodia 38). Although there are debates about the area around dwarf planets, astronomers reveal that dwarf planets do not have a clear orbital area (Batygin 33). Thus, planets that do not have a clear orbital area get placed within the sub-category. However, it is controversial that all the bodies that orbit the Sun and have an unclear area around their orbit path should be termed dwarf planets.
There may be other planets that can be obstructed from reflecting sunlight. For example, lunar and solar eclipses cause shadowing effects on Earth (Lodders 24). At this point, the Earth’s orbital path may not be clear due to shadowing. Thus, this assumption cannot set Earth apart from the solar system as a dwarf planet.
Furthermore, there may be objects near the Sun that are brighter than other planets. As these bodies orbit the Sun, their paths could be clear. Hence, the definition of a clear path around the orbit does not provide a strong enough distinction to define a dwarf as a major planet. However, this characteristic has satisfied Pluto, Eris, and Ceres because they have unclear orbit paths and are far from the Sun.
Habitability and Life-Supporting Conditions
Some major planets support animal and plant life, whereas dwarf planets lack the necessary conditions to support life. Advancements in technology have facilitated easy and convenient movement of gastronomists into space to explore the nature of other planets (Erlic 128). Thus, evidence shows that other planets do not have features such as water and oxygen that support life. It prompts space scientists and astrologists to carry extra oxygen support to facilitate easier and faster space exploration (Erlic 301). In most scenarios, these dwarf planets lack an atmosphere that can provide respiratory gases (De Sanctis 799). However, major planets, such as Earth and others with similar masses, contain life-supporting features like oxygen and water.
Similarities Between Major and Dwarf Planets
On the other hand, major and dwarf planets share similarities in various ways. The similarities are obtained from the nature of their movement, shape, and path around the Sun. Dwarf and major planets are all spherical. The spherical shape is caused by gravity, and enough mass approximates the orbit, unlike the odd-shaped asteroids (Batygin 38). Additionally, they all travel through space in orbit around the Sun. Furthermore, they are all held in space by gravity due to self-sufficient masses as they orbit the Sun.
Conclusion
In conclusion, astronomy has become fascinating as scientists and astrologists have provided studies about the natural environment for centuries. Astronomy has helped to give distinguishing characteristics that differentiate all the planets that form part of the solar system and the universe. In this manner, the study of the solar system has sparked controversial arguments on which criteria a planet must satisfy to be considered a dwarf planet. Thus, this categorization has raised the differences between major and dwarf planets.
Dwarf planets—including Pluto, Ceres, and Eris—are small, Sun-orbiting bodies that are smaller than the Moon. Unlike major planets, dwarf planets lack a precise, defined orbit and instead share their orbital space with other celestial objects. Additionally, major planets such as Earth and Mars support life. Although major and dwarf planets differ, they share similarities in that they both follow orbits in space and are spherical. The spherical nature comes due to the flattening effect of the gravitational force.
Works Cited
Batygin, Konstantin, et al. “The planet nine hypothesis.” Physics Reports 80.5 (2019): 1-53.
Bevelacqua, Joseph, ed. Solar System Planets and Exoplanets. BoD–Books on Demand, 2021.
Castillo-Rogez, Julie, et al. “Concepts for the future exploration of dwarf planet Ceres’ habitability.” The Planetary Science Journal 3.2 (2022): 41.
De Sanctis, Maria Cristina, and Eleonora Ammannito. “Organic matter and associated minerals on the dwarf planet ceres.” Minerals 11.8 (2021): 799.
Erlic, Lily. Kuiper Belt. Weigl Publishers, 2019.
Kanodia, Shubham, et al. “Mass–radius relationship for M dwarf exoplanets: Comparing nonparametric and parametric methods.” The Astrophysical Journal 882.1 (2019): 38.
Lodders, Katharina. “Relative atomic solar system abundances, mass fractions, and atomic masses of the elements and their isotopes, composition of the solar photosphere, and compositions of the major chondritic meteorite groups.” Space Science Reviews 217.3 (2021): 1-33. 254758253634.
Paganotti, Arilson, et al. “Conceptions of students entrants of a Physics course on planets and dwarf planets in Solar System: A case study.” Boletim da Sociedade Astronômica Brasileira 31.1 (2018): 176-177.
Stonkutė, Edita, et al. “High-resolution spectroscopic study of dwarf Stars in the northern sky: Lithium, carbon, and oxygen abundances.” The Astronomical Journal 159.3 (2020): 90.