Ceres (dwarf planet): Difference between revisions
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'''Ceres''' is | '''Ceres''' is a [[dwarf planet]] situated in the [[asteroid belt]]. It was classified as a dwarf planet, along with [[Pluto]] (in the [[Kuiper belt]]) and [[Eris]] (in the [[scattered disc]]) when this new category was created by the [[International Astronomical Union|IAU]] in [[2006]]. Ceres was discovered by [[Piazzi]] in the first days of the [[19th century]]. Originally, Piazzi thought that he had discovered a new [[comet]]. Only after Carl Friedrich [[Gauß]] calculated the course of the object did they found out that it was somewhere between the orbit of [[Mars]] and [[Jupiter]]. Due to this calculations Ceres could be found again on 11th February 1801 by [[Zach]]. Ceres was originally classified as a [[planet]], albeit a strangely small one; but after the discovery of [[Pallas|2 Pallas]], [[Juno|3 Juno]], [[Vesta|4 Vesta]] and other small bodies with nearby orbits, it was reclassified as the largest [[asteroid]], '1 Ceres', and some still refer to it as such. | ||
Revision as of 12:13, 20 October 2007
Ceres is a dwarf planet situated in the asteroid belt. It was classified as a dwarf planet, along with Pluto (in the Kuiper belt) and Eris (in the scattered disc) when this new category was created by the IAU in 2006. Ceres was discovered by Piazzi in the first days of the 19th century. Originally, Piazzi thought that he had discovered a new comet. Only after Carl Friedrich Gauß calculated the course of the object did they found out that it was somewhere between the orbit of Mars and Jupiter. Due to this calculations Ceres could be found again on 11th February 1801 by Zach. Ceres was originally classified as a planet, albeit a strangely small one; but after the discovery of 2 Pallas, 3 Juno, 4 Vesta and other small bodies with nearby orbits, it was reclassified as the largest asteroid, '1 Ceres', and some still refer to it as such.