What is Plutoid?
A '''plutoid''' or '''ice dwarf''' is a [[dwarf planet]] that orbits the sun farther than [[Neptune]]. This concept was defined by the International Astronomical Union General Assembly on [[Prague]] under votes, but without choosing the terminology according to resolution 6A of this general assembly entitled Definition of Pluto-class objects. Its definition is: {{blockquote|Celestial bodies orbiting the [[Sun]] at a distance greater than that of Neptune, with sufficient mass for their own [[gravity]] to overcome rigid body forces such that they assume an almost spherical shape of [[hydrostatic equilibrium]] and that have not emptied their orbit of neighboring bodies.}} [[File:TheTransneptunians Size Albedo Color.svg|right|thumb|450px]] Therefore, any object that meets the definition of dwarf planet and also belongs to the [[Trans-Neptunian object]]s will be considered a plutoid. Eight objects are now classified as plutoids: [[Pluto]], [[90482 Orcus|Orcus]], [[Haumea (dwarf planet)|Haumea]], [[Makemake]], [[50000 Quaoar|Quaoar]], [[90377 Sedna|Sedna]], [[225088 Gonggong|Gonggong]], and [[136199 Eris|Eris]]. The satellites of the plutoids are not plutoids, even though they are massive enough to be gravitationally rounded. [[Ceres]] is not a plutoid hence it's in the [[asteroid belt]] between [[Mars]] and [[Jupiter]] and is the only dwarf planet that is not a plutoid. == Related pages == * [[Pluto]] * [[Haumea]] * [[Makemake]] * [[Quaoar]] * [[Orcus]] * [[Sedna]] * [[Gonggong]] * [[Eris]] * [[Kuiper belt]] * [[Dwarf planet]] [[Category:Dwarf planets]]