For many years rumours of a tenth planet in our solar system have been the stuff of tabloids and science-fiction writers. In 2003 a new planetoid was discovered beyond the orbit of Pluto. Officially named 2003 UB313 this small chunk of rock and ice is about 30% more massive than Pluto.
Now that it has been discovered, the real controversy begins. There is great debate around whether UB313 should be classified as a planet. Since it’s even larger than Pluto, some have even called into question Pluto’s status as a planet. One suggestion is that anything orbiting further out than Neptune and against the regular plane of the solar system be classified a Kuiper Belt Planet.
The final decision on whether or not to classify UB313 as a planet rests with the International Astronomical Union and is expected to be made in September 2006.
Neat. Now we just need something fast enough to get there and see if it has any resources worth pillaging.