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  • What is a Dwarf Planet?
  • Why Dwarf Planets Matter
  • Dwarf Planets in our Solar System
    • 1. Pluto: The Most Famous Dwarf Planet
    • 2. Eris
    •  3. Ceres: The Dwarf Planet in the Asteroid Belt
    • 4. Makemake: A Cold, Distant World
    • 5. Haumea: The Spinning Oddball
  • Dwarf Planets vs. Planets
    • Why Pluto Was Reclassified?
  • Are Asteroids Dwarf Planets?
    • Conclusion
  • How many Dwarf Planets are there in our Solar System? FAQs
physics /
How many Dwarf Planets are there in our Solar System?
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How many Dwarf Planets are there in our Solar System?

By Maitree Choube

|

Updated on 25 Apr 2025, 14:34 IST

Dwarf Planets: For generations, learning about the solar system was almost like memorizing a grocery list—simple, neat, and ending with Pluto as the ninth and final planet. But the cosmos had other plans. In 2006, everything changed when scientists gave Pluto a cosmic demotion, introducing the world to a whole new class of celestial objects called dwarf planets. 

Suddenly, the solar system wasn’t just about planets orbiting the sun—it became a more mysterious and dynamic place filled with hidden worlds. But what exactly is a dwarf planet? Why did Pluto lose its "planet" status? In this article, we’ll explore what makes dwarf planets unique, why they matter, and how they continue to challenge our understanding of space. 

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Spoiler alert: Pluto is not alone out there.

What is a Dwarf Planet?

A dwarf planet is a celestial body that orbits the sun just like the major planets, but with a twist—it doesn’t quite fit all the criteria needed to be called a full-fledged planet. According to the International Astronomical Union (IAU), a dwarf planet is defined as an object in space that:

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Orbits the sun directly, just like planets

  • Has enough mass and gravity to shape itself into a nearly spherical form
  • Has not cleared its orbital path of other debris and objects
  • Is not a moon or satellite of another planet

In simple terms, a dwarf planet is like a planet in training—it has the shape and orbit but hasn’t dominated its space neighborhood. These bodies exist in various parts of our solar system, especially in regions like the Kuiper Belt and asteroid belt, and they reveal a lot about the early formation of planets.

How many Dwarf Planets are there in our Solar System?

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Unlike the eight recognized planets, dwarf planets such as Pluto, Eris, Haumea, Makemake, and Ceres are part of a growing list of mysterious worlds that offer clues about the outer reaches of the solar system.

Also Check: Names of Planets

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Why Dwarf Planets Matter

Though they may be smaller in size, dwarf planets play a major role in space science. They help astronomers study the building blocks of planetary systems, the behavior of icy and rocky bodies, and the conditions that existed billions of years ago. In fact, many scientists believe dwarf planets hold the key to unlocking secrets about the origins of our solar system.

Dwarf Planets in our Solar System

Dwarf planets are fascinating celestial objects that challenge our traditional understanding of planets. While they orbit the sun and often resemble small planets, their orbits and characteristics set them apart. 

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The International Astronomical Union (IAU), the official authority for naming and classifying celestial bodies, currently recognizes five dwarf planets in our solar system:

  1. Pluto
  2. Eris
  3. Ceres
  4. Makemake
  5. Haumea

1. Pluto: The Most Famous Dwarf Planet

Pluto - Dwarf Planet

Once considered the ninth planet, Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006. Despite its size, it remains one of the most studied and intriguing bodies in the outer solar system.

FeatureDetails
Discovery1930 by Clyde Tombaugh
LocationKuiper Belt
OrbitNot perfectly circular (highly elliptical)
Orbital PeriodAbout 250 Earth years to complete one orbit around the Sun
Surface TemperatureExtremely cold, around -375°F (-225°C)
Interesting FactPluto has five moons; the largest, Charon, is nearly half its size
NASA MissionNew Horizons spacecraft flew by Pluto in 2015, capturing the first close-up images of its surface

2. Eris

Eris - Dwarf Planet

Eris is a distant dwarf planet located beyond Neptune, in the outer reaches of the Kuiper Belt. Discovered in 2005, Eris is slightly smaller than Pluto but more massive, making it one of the most significant discoveries in modern astronomy. Its presence challenged Pluto's planetary status, leading to the redefinition of what qualifies as a planet.

FeatureDetails
RepresentationArtistic illustration with its moon, Dysnomia (Credit: NASA/ESA/A. Schaller)
Orbital PathPositioned beyond Neptune’s orbit
Orbital PeriodTakes about 557 Earth years to orbit the Sun once
Size & MassSlightly smaller than Pluto but over 25% denser
Discovery Year2005
Name OriginNamed after the Greek goddess Eris, symbolizing discord
Surface CompositionLikely similar to Pluto’s, containing methane ice
Scientific ImpactIts discovery led to the reclassification of Pluto as a dwarf planet

 3. Ceres: The Dwarf Planet in the Asteroid Belt

Ceres

Ceres is the only dwarf planet located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, and it’s also the closest dwarf planet to Earth.

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FeatureDetails
Discovery1801 by Giuseppe Piazzi
LocationAsteroid Belt
Orbital PeriodAbout 4.6 Earth years
SizeLargest object in the asteroid belt
Surface FeaturesContains bright spots and possible water ice
NASA MissionDawn spacecraft entered orbit around Ceres in 2015, after visiting Vesta

4. Makemake: A Cold, Distant World

Makemake - Dwarf Planet

Makemake is a lesser-known but equally fascinating dwarf planet in the outer solar system.

FeatureDetails
Discovery2005 by a team led by Mike Brown
LocationKuiper Belt
Distance from Sun30 to 50 times farther than Earth
Orbital PeriodAbout 300 Earth years
Surface ColorReddish-brown due to methane ice
MoonsOne known moon, discovered in 2016

5. Haumea: The Spinning Oddball

Haumea

Haumea stands out among dwarf planets due to its unusual shape, rapid spin, and ring system.

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FeatureDetails
Discovery2004 by teams in the U.S. and Spain
LocationKuiper Belt
Orbital PeriodAbout 285 Earth years
ShapeElongated and oval due to rapid spinning
Rotation SpeedSpins once every 4 hours (fastest of any large body in the solar system)
RingsYes, Haumea has its own ring system
MoonsTwo known moons – Hi’iaka and Namaka

Dwarf Planets vs. Planets

The main difference between planets and dwarf planets lies in orbital dominance. A planet must:

  • Orbit the Sun
  • Have sufficient mass for self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces (making it round)
  • Have "cleared the neighborhood" around its orbit
  • Dwarf planets meet the first two criteria but fail to clear their orbital path of other objects.
Related Topics
WeatheringTension
Ohm's LawPower
VenusVolcanoes

Why Pluto Was Reclassified?

Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006 by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) because:

  • It shares its orbital path with many other Kuiper Belt objects
  • It couldn't clear its neighborhood of these objects
  • The discovery of similar-sized objects like Eris prompted astronomers to either accept many new planets or create a new classification

This decision remains somewhat controversial among both scientists and the public, with some still advocating for Pluto's planetary status.

Are Asteroids Dwarf Planets?

Most asteroids are not dwarf planets. To be a dwarf planet, an object must be massive enough for its gravity to pull it into a roughly spherical shape. Most asteroids are:

  • Irregularly shaped
  • Too small to achieve hydrostatic equilibrium (roundness)
  • Located primarily in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter
  • Only the largest asteroid, Ceres (diameter of about 940 km), is classified as a dwarf planet. The vast majority of asteroids are simply too small to qualify.
  • Currently recognized dwarf planets include Pluto, Eris, Haumea, Makemake, and Ceres, though scientists believe many more potential dwarf planets exist in our solar system's outer regions.

Conclusion

Dwarf planets are far more than distant chunks of rock and ice. They are time capsules from the early solar system, offering a glimpse into its formation and evolution. From Pluto’s icy plains to Ceres’ bright spots, each of these worlds tells a unique story. As technology advances, future missions may explore these mysterious objects even further, revealing secrets still hidden in the dark reaches of space.

How many Dwarf Planets are there in our Solar System? FAQs

How many dwarf planets are there in 2025?

As of 2025, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) officially recognizes 5 dwarf planets in our solar system: Pluto, Eris, Haumea, Makemake, and Ceres. However, astronomers believe there could be hundreds of objects in our solar system that might qualify as dwarf planets once they're studied more closely.

Which is the largest dwarf planet?

Pluto is currently considered the largest dwarf planet in terms of physical size with a diameter of about 2,377 kilometers (1,477 miles). However, Eris is slightly more massive despite having a slightly smaller diameter.

What are the names of the dwarf planets?

The five officially recognized dwarf planets are:

Pluto (formerly classified as the ninth planet)
Eris
Haumea
Makemake
Ceres (located in the asteroid belt)

Which is the smallest dwarf planet?

Ceres is the smallest of the officially recognized dwarf planets with a diameter of about 940 kilometers (585 miles). It's located in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

How many dwarf planets are there in the solar system?

There are 5 officially recognized dwarf planets in our solar system. However, scientists estimate there could be up to 200 or more objects in our solar system that might meet the criteria for dwarf planets, particularly in the Kuiper Belt beyond Neptune.

How many dwarf planets are there in the Milky Way galaxy?

We currently only know of dwarf planets in our own solar system. It's very likely that other star systems in the Milky Way also have dwarf planets, but they're too small and distant for us to detect with current technology. There could potentially be billions of dwarf planets throughout the Milky Way galaxy.

How many dwarf planets are there in the universe?

Given that there are hundreds of billions of galaxies in the observable universe, each potentially containing billions of star systems, there are likely trillions of dwarf planets throughout the universe. However, we can only directly observe the dwarf planets in our own solar system with current technology.

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