text: is it true that pluto is not a planet? they say that pluto is a kbo... opinions? websites? pics? hey! thanks for mentioning the term kbo, i had very faint memories of the topic and your mention refreshed my memory. to again remind myself all about kuiper belt objects, i went here- http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery?method=4&dsid=2222&dekey=kuiper+belt&curtab=2222_1&linktext=kuiper%20belt  now, i am back to answer your question loaded with my thoughts and ideas. here is what i reckon- according to the recent observations, it has been proved without the shadow of doubt that pluto is a kbo. but, it is still unclear that whether it is a large asteroid or a planet due to its smaller size.   but again, that is another thing because, a heavenly body can be a kbo and a planet at the same time. it can also be a satellite and a kbo at the same time. consider the moon of neptune which was a kbo and now is a satellite of naptune.  so, we can say that although pluto falls in the kuiper belt. it doesn't have an effect on its being an asteroid or a planet although, if it were discovered right now, it is most likely that scientists won't call it a planet. but, because, it is orbiting the sun even as a kbo and is no different from any body in the solar system. the main point of discussion regarding this is whether it is a planet or an asteroid? due to its size, it is often considered an intermediate between a planet and an asteroid. scientists may argue about this topic but, it doesn't hold that much significance as it is only the size that is point of debate & it can be considered either a planet or a huge asteroid.  well, to view the ongoing debate on this topic, visit these sites- 1] yes, pluto really is a planet http://www.lowell.edu/users/buie/pluto/planet.html  2] is pluto a planet, an asteroid, or...? http://mips.as.arizona.edu/~stansber/planet.html  3] is pluto a real planet, or just a large asteroid? what is the definition of a planet, anyway? http://curious.astro.cornell.edu/question.php?number=624  4] the pluto debate http://www.iac.es/galeria/mrk/pluto_debate.html  5] a planet no more? - a national geographic report http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2001/02/0216_pluto.html  6] is pluto no longer considered a planet? http://www.astronomycafe.net/qadir/ask/a11770.html  for pictures on this topic, here are the links- http://www.weasner.com/etx/ref_guides/images/sherrod-ngc2017.jpg http://www.ontariosciencecentre.ca/scizone/brainz/hamilton/assets/pluto/sedna_orbit.jpg http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.promotega.org/vsu05033/pluto.26.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.promotega.org/vsu05033/pluto.htm&h=302&w=374&sz=3&tbnid=jxa-jgu8ciaxsm:&tbnh=95&tbnw=118&hl=en&start=16&prev=/images%3fq%3d%2522pluto%2522%252b%2522planet%2522%252b%2522is%2522%26svnum%3d10%26hl%3den%26lr%3d%26sa%3dg http://www.windows.ucar.edu/pluto/images/plutrend_small.gif http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.windows.ucar.edu/pluto/images/plutrend_small.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link%3d/kids_space/plutostatus.html&h=192&w=256&sz=14&tbnid=nqtyqyoxjvbldm:&tbnh=80&tbnw=107&hl=en&start=14&prev=/images%3fq%3d%2522pluto%2522%252b%2522planet%2522%252b%2522is%2522%26svnum%3d10%26hl%3den%26lr%3d%26sa%3dg http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.solarvoyager.com/images/art/binary%2520planet%2520by%2520mark%2520garlick.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.solarvoyager.com/mgarlick.asp&h=330&w=444&sz=29&tbnid=lvtsl53cvkvium:&tbnh=92&tbnw=124&hl=en&start=21&prev=/images%3fq%3d%2522pluto%2522%252b%2522planet%2522%252b%2522is%2522%26start%3d20%26svnum%3d10%26hl%3den%26lr%3d%26sa%3dn http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.solarvoyager.com/images/art/binary%2520planet%2520by%2520mark%2520garlick.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.solarvoyager.com/mgarlick.asp&h=330&w=444&sz=29&tbnid=lvtsl53cvkvium:&tbnh=92&tbnw=124&hl=en&start=21&prev=/images%3fq%3d%2522pluto%2522%252b%2522planet%2522%252b%2522is%2522%26start%3d20%26svnum%3d10%26hl%3den%26lr%3d%26sa%3dn