What are dwarf planets?

A dwarf planet is like a smaller version of a planet that lives in space.

Imagine you're playing with toy cars on a big floor, that's kind of like our solar system. The big kids, like Earth and Mars, are the planets, rolling around the Sun. But there are also some medium-sized kids who aren't quite as big or as strong, they’re the dwarf planets.

One famous dwarf planet is Pluto, which used to be considered a full-fledged planet before it was reclassified. Think of it like your friend who sometimes plays with the bigger group but has their own little group too, still important, just not as big.

Dwarf planets are special because:

• They orbit the Sun, just like planets.
• They are round, like a ball.
• They don’t clear their path around the Sun, it’s like having other toys in your way when you’re moving across the floor.

Even though they’re smaller and not as powerful as the big planets, dwarf planets still have their own special place in space, just like your friend who plays with both groups!