Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Why is Pluto also classified as a plutoid?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Pluto
Pluto as observed by the New Horizons spacecraft, July 13, 2015.
Pluto is classified as a plutoid because it meets the specific criteria established by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in June 2008 for this subcategory of dwarf planets.12
To be designated as a plutoid, a celestial body must satisfy two primary conditions:
* It must be a dwarf planet.12
* It must orbit the Sun at a distance greater than that of Neptune.12
Because Pluto is a dwarf planet located in the outer reaches of the solar system beyond Neptune, it qualifies as a plutoid. Other examples of bodies that share this classification include Eris, Makemake, and Haumea. Conversely, Ceres is a dwarf planet but is not a plutoid, as it resides within the asteroid belt.12