What, Exactly, Is a Planet?

Nearly 2,500 astronomers from 75 countries gathered here Monday to come up with a universal definition of what qualifies as a planet and possibly decide whether Pluto should keep its planet status.

For decades, the solar system has consisted of nine planets, even as scientists debated whether Pluto really belonged. Then the recent discovery of an object larger and farther away than Pluto threatened to throw this slice of the cosmos into chaos.

	Plan Would Add Planets to Solar System	Associated Press	Wed Aug 16	11
	Small Pluto, a planet or not?	xinhuanet	Mon Aug 14	0
	Pluto faces expulsion from planetary league	The Register (UK)	Mon Aug 14	1
	The IAU draft definition of "planet" and "plutons"	iau2006.org	Wed Aug 16	3
	Nine Planets Become 12 with Controversial New Definition	Space.com	Wed Aug 16	0