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WASHINGTON (AP) -- The official group that names objects in the solar system is calling all distant dwarf planets "plutoids" after the planet that was demoted to dwarf status.
This image, taken by the Hubble telescope, shows Pluto and its moons: Charon, Nix and Hydra.
The International Astronomical Union has created a new category for objects that circle the sun and are too small to be considered planets, but are big enough to have their own gravity.
Plutoids must also be farther from the sun than Neptune.
The astronomical union, which is meeting in Oslo, Norway, raised a cosmic fuss two years ago when it demoted Pluto.
There are only two plutoids: Pluto and Eris.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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