Why has the scientific classification of objects like Pluto changed significantly in the last two decades?
Answer
The discovery of numerous other bodies and improved measurement technology.
Over the last twenty years, researchers have discovered hundreds of new objects in the outer solar system. Technological advancements in both telescopes and observational strategies have allowed for much more precise measurements of size and mass. This influx of data forced scientists to refine their definitions and classification systems for dwarf planets and other icy bodies.
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