Various Definitions of a Planet

The term planet currently does not have a unanimous agreement upon definition. The most widely accepted criteria proposed by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in 2006 are not undisputable. Perhaps the most controversial topic is the idea of determining the planetary status of an object not only by its own physical properties like mass or roundness, but also by its orbital properties, such as the type of its orbital parent and the object gravitational dominance. It is also difficult to draw the exact boundaries of all these properties. Another issue is developing a definition that is universal and useful, and that can be further developed for objects that have not yet been discovered or for which there is only a limited amount of data available, such as some Trans-Neptunian Objects (TNOs) or extrasolar bodies. In the wake of an era of discovery when new Solar System objects and exoplanets are being detected, it may be beneficial or even necessary to reconsider and possibly redefine what exactly a planet is. Abstract Published by the Jagiellonian University 2025 authors