In which city and year was the binding three-part definition of a planet formally voted upon by the IAU?
Answer
Prague in August 2006
The critical juncture where the historical ambiguity surrounding planetary classification was formally addressed occurred at a meeting of the International Astronomical Union (IAU). A dedicated working group was established to create a precise, scientific standard to replace the previous system, which relied heavily on subjective estimates and historical customs. This new, comprehensive definition, structured as a three-part test, was formally proposed and subsequently voted upon by the IAU members in Prague, Czech Republic, during August of the year 2006. This decision marked the official end of the descriptive era and the beginning of a classification rooted in dynamical criteria relevant to orbital mechanics.
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