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SpaceGuy50
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If one were to be found, would it be a planet?
A KBO, or Kuiper Belt Object, is a small icy body that orbits the sun in the Kuiper Belt region beyond Neptune. These objects are remnants from the formation of our solar system and are mostly composed of ice and rock.
The size of a KBO is significant because it is one of the criteria used in the IAU's (International Astronomical Union) definition of a planet. According to the IAU, a planet must be round, orbit the sun, and have cleared its orbit of other objects. If a KBO is the size of Mars, it may have enough mass to clear its orbit and be considered a planet.
No, the size of a KBO is just one of the criteria used in determining if it's considered a planet. It must also meet the other criteria set by the IAU, such as orbiting the sun and clearing its orbit.
Mars has a diameter of approximately 6,779 km, while the average size of a KBO is around 1,000 km. This means that Mars is significantly larger than the average KBO, but there may be individual KBOs that are larger than Mars.
The debate surrounding this topic stems from the IAU's decision to reclassify Pluto as a dwarf planet in 2006. This decision sparked discussions about the definition of a planet and whether or not it should be revised. Some argue that a KBO the size of Mars should be considered a planet because it meets the size criteria, while others argue that it does not fit all the criteria and therefore should not be classified as a planet.