Dwarf Planets
The term "dwarf planet" is a notional placeholder recommended by some International Astronomical Union (IAU) members tasked with defining the term "planet". Several panel members have favored dividing planets into categories: terrestrial planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars), giant planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune) and a third class that would include Pluto. This third class, a group consisting of small planets with spheroid shape (as opposed to irregular shapes typical of asteorids, for example), may be called dwarf planets. Final ruling on this issue by the IAU is expected in September 2006. [1]