Dwarf Planets

In 2006, Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet. Small, rocky dwarf planets make their home on the outer edges of the solar system. Scientists use telescopes to study Pluto and the dwarf planets as they orbit the Sun. Their fascinating findings are on display in this informative title about some of the solar system’s most far-away objects!

In Dwarf Planets: Pluto and the Lesser Planets, students will learn about the five discovered dwarf planets in our solar system and make observations about orbital patterns, new discoveries, and more. Filled with fun facts, young learners will love exploring the scientific information and drawing conclusions about life now and in the future. The Inside Outer Space series takes readers on an intergalactic journey that unravels the mysteries of the universe. Each 24-page book informs readers in grades K–3 on the Sun, Earth, planets, and stars, while also igniting imaginations about the unknown. Stunning photographs and diagrams engage readers, while text-based questions aid in reading comprehension

"Describes the five dwarf planets in our solar system, including the birth of the solar system and the dwarf planets' orbits around the Sun"--Provided by publisher.

They're like major planets, but not quite. They circle around the sun. They're round. But they haven't cleared everything out of their path. Explore these unusual objects in this book about the dwarf planets.

Did you know that there are five known dwarf planets? They are called Ceres, Pluto, Haumea, Makemake, and Eris. Find out more in Dwarf Planets, a Planets book. This is an AV2 media enhanced book. A unique book code printed on page 2 unlocks multimedia content. This book comes alive with embedded weblinks, audio and video clips, activities, and other features, such as a slide show, matching word activity, and quiz.

Dwarf planets (which were formerly called asteroids except for the planet Pluto), and the smaller Solar System bodies still called asteroids today, are making front page news, particularly those that are newly discovered and those that might present a hazard to life on Earth by impacting our planet. In this age of giant telescopes and space probes, these small Solar System bodies have advanced from being tiny points of light to bodies worthy of widespread study. This book describes the dwarf planets and asteroids themselves, their origins, orbits, and composition, and at how amateur astronomers can play a part in their detection, tracking, and imaging. The book is divided into two parts. Part I describes physical properties (including taxonomic types) of dwarf planets and asteroids, how they formed in the early life of the Solar System, and how they evolved to their present positions, groups, and families. It also covers the properties used to define these small Solar System bodies: magnitude, rotation rates (described by their light-curves), and orbital characteristics. Part II opens with a description of the hardware and software an amateur or practical astronomer needs to observe and also to image asteroids. Then numerous observing techniques are covered in depth. Finally, there are lists of relevant amateur and professional organizations and how to submit your own observations to them.