Changes

In 2006, the International Astronomical Union decided the issue: they redefined a planet as a satellite of the sun that had cleared its path of all other objects, and by that standard, Pluto did not qualify as a planet any longer.

In 2006, the International Astronomical Union decided the issue: they redefined a planet as a satellite of the sun that had cleared its path of all other objects, and by that standard, Pluto did not qualify as a planet any longer.

At 67.7 AU from the [[Sun]], it is the most distant object yet discovered that has the [[Sun]] for a primary. At aphelion, it is far beyond the [[Kuiper belt]] and in what is known as the Scatter Disk of the [[solar system]]. Because Eris is so distant from [[Earth]] (currently near [[Apsis|aphelion]] and hence three times more distant than is Pluto as of 2008), it has a very long sidereal year of 577 Julian years. Its synodic year is very nearly the same as an [[Earth]] year.

At 67.7 AU from the [[Sun]], it is the most distant object yet discovered that has the [[Sun]] for a primary. At aphelion, it is far beyond the [[Kuiper Belt]] and in what is known as the Scatter Disk of the [[solar system]]. Because Eris is so distant from [[Earth]] (currently near [[Apsis|aphelion]] and hence three times more distant than is Pluto as of 2008), it has a very long sidereal year of 577 Julian years. Its synodic year is very nearly the same as an [[Earth]] year.

== Surface and atmosphere ==

== Surface and atmosphere ==