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Annie Armstrong was visiting Mike’s school.

She talked to some of the students.

 

Sally:       

Annie, is the sun really a star ?

 

Annie:    

Yes, it is. The sun is a star.

It is a very important star

because it gives heat and light

to the planets in the Solar System.

 

Mike:      

Annie, my grandfather wants to know

why there are only eight planets

in the Solar System now.

He learned that there were nine planets.

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Annie:    

Well, Pluto was considered to be

in the group of main planets until 2006.

In 2006 scientists decided

that Pluto could no longer

be a part of that group.

Then they reclassified Pluto

as a dwarf planet.

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Tony:      

I don’t know what

“The Asteroids” are.

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Annie:    

The Asteroids are big pieces

of rock or metal

and they orbit the sun.

There is a very big group

of asteroids between

Jupiter and Mars.

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