Question

Ceres is located in the asteroid belt. It was first classified as an asteroid, but now has a classification as a minor planet. Explain why according to the IAU planet criteria?

Answer 1

Ceres was first classified as an asteroid but is now considered a dwarf planet according to the IAU's planet criteria.

Step-by-step explanation:

Ceres was first classified as an asteroid because it was discovered in the asteroid belt and initially thought to be a new planet. However, as more objects with similar orbits to Ceres were discovered, astronomers decided that they should not all be considered planets. The International Astronomical Union (IAU) then created a new classification for these objects, called minor planets or asteroids. Ceres is now classified as a dwarf planet, which is a type of minor planet that meets the IAU's criteria for planet classification.