A celestial body resembling a small planet but lacking certain technical criteria that are required for it to be classed as such.
Example sentencesExamples
- A paper in the journal Science has further relegated poor Pluto's status by proving that twin dwarf planet Eris is 27 per cent larger.
- After being downgraded from a planet to a dwarf planet last year, it now transpires it is not even the biggest of those.
- Ceres and Xena will also be considered dwarf planets.
- In 2006 Pluto was officially downgraded from planet to dwarf planet, causing much controversy in astronomical circles.
- "If you look to the left ladies and gentlemen you will get a perfect view of the dwarf planet Eris."