As defined by the IAU, what category of celestial bodies orbits the Sun, is round, and is big enough and has enough gravity to "Clear the neighborhood" around its orbit?

small solar bodies
planets
dwarf planet

1 answer

The category of celestial bodies that orbits the Sun, is round, and is big enough and has enough gravity to "clear the neighborhood" around its orbit is called planets. According to the International Astronomical Union (IAU), a planet must meet certain criteria, which include being in orbit around the Sun, being spherical in shape, and having cleared its orbital zone of other debris.

Dwarf planets, on the other hand, also orbit the Sun and are spherical, but they do not meet the requirement of having cleared their neighborhood around their orbit.