Xena is a dwarf planet
August 24th, 2006
According to Space Daily, the IAU definitions of objects in our solar system can be best described this way:
The International Astronomical Union has decided that, to be called a planet, an object must have three traits. It must orbit the sun, be massive enough that its own gravity pulls it into a nearly round shape, and be dominant enough to clear away objects in its neighborhood.
To be admitted to the dwarf planet category, an object must have only two of those traits — it must orbit the sun and have a nearly round shape. And no, moons don’t count as dwarf planets. In addition to Pluto, Ceres and 2003 UB313, the astronomical union has a dozen potential “dwarf planets” on its watchlist.
What’s to become of the other objects in our solar system neighborhood, the ones that are not planets, not dwarf planets and not moons? The organization has decided that most asteroids, comets and other small objects will be called “small solar-system bodies.”
So, although Xena is not a planet, it is a dwarf planet. Maybe they should officially name it with one of the Seven Dwarfs names. Of those names (Bashful, Doc, Dopey, Grumpy, Happy, Sleepy and Sneezy), I’d choose Bashful, since it is hiding so far away. 
July 15th, 2010 at 11:53 pm
It’s not over. Pluto and Eris are planets, as are Ceres, Haumea, Makemake, and many others in our solar system, provided they orbit the sun and are large enough to be rounded by their own gravity. Only four percent of the IAU voted on the controversial demotion, and most are not planetary scientists. Their decision was immediately opposed in a formal petition by hundreds of professional astronomers led by Dr. Alan Stern, Principal Investigator of NASA’s New Horizons mission to Pluto. One reason the IAU definition makes no sense is it says dwarf planets are not planets at all! That is like saying a grizzly bear is not a bear, and it is inconsistent with the use of the term “dwarf” in astronomy, where dwarf stars are still stars, and dwarf galaxies are still galaxies. Also, the IAU definition classifies objects solely by where they are while ignoring what they are. If Earth were in Pluto’s orbit, according to the IAU definition, it would not be a planet either. A definition that takes the same object and makes it a planet in one location and not a planet in another is essentially useless. Pluto is a planet because it is spherical, meaning it is large enough to be pulled into a round shape by its own gravity–a state known as hydrostatic equilibrium and characteristic of planets, not of shapeless asteroids held together by chemical bonds. These reasons are why many astronomers, lay people, and educators are either ignoring the demotion entirely or working to get it overturned.
September 5th, 2010 at 9:42 pm
look, i believe this PLANET X is heading our way here in usa we can see soemthing large in our skys and it says on some sites its coming is this true or flase?