NASA has new research that could finally settle the debate over whether Pluto is a planet
Airfind news item
By Sean Sterling
Published on May 1, 2026.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman is advocating for the reclassification of Pluto, which was previously classified as the solar system's ninth planet. The International Astronomical Union (IAU) voted to reclassify Pluto as a dwarf planet in 2006, a move that has faced ongoing backlash. The IAU's definition of a planet requires a body to orbit the Sun, be nearly round, and have the gravitational influence to clear its orbital neighborhood of debris. However, Isaacman argues that Pluto falls short on these criteria. He has maintained his belief that Pluto deserves full planetary status. This sentiment aligns with a broader camp of scientists and enthusiasts who argue that the IAU criteria are too restrictive, given Pluto's complex geology, glaciers and moons revealed by NASA's New Horizons flyby in 2015.
Read Original Article