According to the International Astronomical Union's (IAU) definition of a planet, Ceres is a dwarf planet, but it hasn't always been this way. When it was discovered by Giuseppe Piazzi, Ceres was classified as a planet. Since the 18th century, astronomers suspected the existence of a planet between Mars and Jupiter. Finally, on January 1st 1801, Piazzi discovered a celestial object he initially thought was a comet, but he suspected it was more than a comet. In the following year, Ceres was confirmed as a planet.
Piazzi originally named it Ceres Ferdinandea, after the Roman goddess of agriculture and the patron goddess of Sicily, and King Ferdinand of Bourbon. Meanwhile, other countries adopted different names for the planet. In Germany, for example, the planet was being called Hera. In the end, astronomers reached a consensus and the planet became known as Ceres.
In 1802, another planet had been discovered, Pallas. In 1804, Juno had been discovered, and in 1807 Vesta was discovered. All these newly discovered planets orbited close to each other, between Mars and Jupiter. In less than 10 years the solar system went from 7 planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and Uranus) to 11 planets.
Almost 40 years later, in 1845, a new planet was discovered, Astraea. In a short period of time, more objects were discovered. This led to the conclusion in 1847 that these objects (including Ceres, Pallas, Juno, Vesta and Astraea) weren't planets, they were asteroids, and they formed the asteroid belt. Ceres was considered an asteroid until 2006, when the IAU promoted it to a dwarf planet.
Piazzi originally named it Ceres Ferdinandea, after the Roman goddess of agriculture and the patron goddess of Sicily, and King Ferdinand of Bourbon. Meanwhile, other countries adopted different names for the planet. In Germany, for example, the planet was being called Hera. In the end, astronomers reached a consensus and the planet became known as Ceres.
In 1802, another planet had been discovered, Pallas. In 1804, Juno had been discovered, and in 1807 Vesta was discovered. All these newly discovered planets orbited close to each other, between Mars and Jupiter. In less than 10 years the solar system went from 7 planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn and Uranus) to 11 planets.
Almost 40 years later, in 1845, a new planet was discovered, Astraea. In a short period of time, more objects were discovered. This led to the conclusion in 1847 that these objects (including Ceres, Pallas, Juno, Vesta and Astraea) weren't planets, they were asteroids, and they formed the asteroid belt. Ceres was considered an asteroid until 2006, when the IAU promoted it to a dwarf planet.
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