Question

Which of the following is NOT one of the criteria necessary to classify an object as a major planet?

1) It must have enough self-gravity to be approximately spherical.
2) It has cleared its neighborhood around its orbit of other bodies.
3) It must have at least one moon orbiting around it.
4) It must orbit the Sun.

Answer 1

The criterion not necessary for classifying an object as a major planet is that it must have at least one moon. A planet must orbit the Sun, be spherical due to its mass, and have cleared its orbital path.

Step-by-step explanation:

The option that is NOT one of the criteria necessary to classify an object as a major planet is: 3) It must have at least one moon orbiting around it. According to the International Astronomical Union (IAU), the criteria for a celestial body to be classified as a planet are that it: 1) is in orbit around the Sun, 2) has sufficient mass to assume hydrostatic equilibrium, meaning it has a nearly round shape, and 3) has cleared the neighborhood around its orbit of other celestial bodies. A celestial body that fulfills only the first two criteria is considered a dwarf planet, like Pluto which was reclassified in 2006 after not meeting the third criterion.