Published: June 5, 2022 8:22am EDT Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. Have a question you’d like an expert to answer? Send it to .

In 2006, and after much debate, the International Astronomical Union came up with a new definition for a planet. And for the first time, the term "dwarf planet" was used.

That’s why Pluto lost its status as a planet and is now classified as a dwarf planet. It failed the final item on the checklist – other icy Kuiper belt bodies are within its orbital path.

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