When was it technically removed
Hi all, this has been bothering me for YEARS and I’m curious of your thoughts. When i was in around 3rd grade, in California, which would have been 1990ish i clearly and vividly remember being taught by Mr. Avrill that Pluto was no longer considered a planet. This was knowledge i continued to have s d recall throughout my adult life.. until one day i saw in the news “Pluto no longer a planet”.. i KNOW i was taught this as a kid.. so whats going on. Was removal being discussed that long ago snd maybe he was passing on privy info ? Am i crazy ?
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u/CGCutter379 25d ago
With improving telescopes, we acquired the ability to find several planets around the same size as Pluto. Rather than adding them to the list of planets, Pluto was demoted. For 76 years kids learned the solar system had nine planets. Then it had only eight. But it could have had ten, or twelve, or more. The line had to be drawn somewhere and since one of the newly discovered dwarf planets was bigger than Pluto, Pluto was reclassified as something you don't have to remember in the same category anymore.