kääbusplaneetidel

Kääbusplaneetidel is a term used in Estonian to refer to dwarf planets. Dwarf planets are celestial bodies orbiting the Sun that are massive enough to be rounded by their own gravity, but have not cleared their orbital neighborhood of other objects. This last criterion distinguishes them from planets. Currently, there are five objects officially recognized as dwarf planets by the International Astronomical Union: Ceres, Pluto, Haumea, Makemake, and Eris.

Ceres is located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, making it the only dwarf planet in the inner solar system. Pluto, once considered the ninth planet, resides in the Kuiper Belt, a region of icy bodies beyond Neptune. Haumea and Makemake are also found in the Kuiper Belt, while Eris is located in the scattered disk, a more distant region of the solar system.

The classification of dwarf planets was established in 2006, leading to Pluto's reclassification. This definition continues to be a subject of discussion among astronomers, with many other celestial bodies potentially meeting the criteria for dwarf planet status. Studying dwarf planets helps scientists understand the formation and evolution of the solar system, particularly the outer regions. Their composition and characteristics offer clues about the conditions in the early solar system and the processes that shaped it.