
New planet definition sparks furore
25 August 2006
Some astronomers say the Earth and three other planets fail to meet the criteria of the new definition, which was decided by just 4% of eligible voters

25 August 2006
Some astronomers say the Earth and three other planets fail to meet the criteria of the new definition, which was decided by just 4% of eligible voters

24 August 2006
Astronomers voted to demote Pluto to "dwarf planet" status, leaving eight fully fledged planets – but there is still a crumb of comfort for fans of the distant, frigid world

24 August 2006
After days of heated wrangling, astronomers will today decide on the definition of a planet – will Pluto be left out in the cold?

22 August 2006
After a heated public debate and subsequent closed-door negotiations, astronomers settle on a draft planet definition that would demote Pluto

22 August 2006
The latest attempt to define "planet" meets with a hostile response from astronomers at a key meeting in Prague

18 August 2006
A second definition that says a planet is "by far the largest body in its local population" has been proposed at a meeting of the International Astronomical Union

16 August 2006
The International Astronomical Union will vote next week on what constitutes a planet – use our handy guide to see what all the fuss is about

16 August 2006
A new proposal that defines 'planet' as a round body in orbit around a star would add a former asteroid, Pluto's moon and "Xena" to the solar system's pantheon of planets

16 August 2006
The International Astronomical Union will vote next week on what constitutes a planet – use our handy guide to see what all the fuss is about

9 August 2006
The discovery gives an even better idea of the nature of this solar system – the second most distant known