On this day in space! Aug. 24, 2006: Pluto loses its planet status
This article reflects on the 20th anniversary of the International Astronomical Union's decision to reclassify Pluto from a planet to a dwarf planet. It highlights the ongoing scientific debate and public controversy surrounding the definition of a planet.
Why it matters
The reclassification remains a significant moment in modern astronomy that challenges how we define and categorize celestial bodies in our solar system.
Solar System Pluto On this day in space! Aug. 24, 2006: Pluto loses its planet status News By Hanneke Weitering Contributions by Brett Tingley Published 24 August 2026 For now, Pluto will just have to be the king of the dwarf planets. And that's pretty cool, too.
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Click for next article Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter On Aug. 24, 2006, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) decided that Pluto wasn't a planet anymore .
Since that date, Pluto has been officially classified as a dwarf planet along with four other confirmed dwarf planets in the outskirts of the solar system.
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