A group of astronomers from the University of California, USA, and the University of British Columbia, Canada, have proposed revising the current criteria for planetary status for celestial bodies. The study was published in the scientific journal broadcasting Planetary Science Journal (PSJ).
According to the current definition established by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in 2006, planets are considered worlds that orbit the Sun individually and have enough mass for gravity to give them a round shape.
Therefore, only worlds within the Solar System can be officially recognized as planets, while thousands of known planetary objects elsewhere in the Universe are not.
To eliminate the inaccuracies, the team suggested changing the criteria and giving planetary status to celestial bodies based on their mass.
In the new definition, a planet is a celestial body that has the following characteristics:
• Orbits one or more stars, brown dwarfs, or stellar remnants;
• Mass greater than 1023 kilogram;
• Less massive than 13 Jupiter masses (2.5 x 1028 kilogram).
The International Astronomical Union (IAU) has not yet made any announcements about possible changes to the official planet definition.
Earlier scientists to create an exoplanet with a huge warm ocean in the nearest constellation.