The solar system, except for 8 large celestial bodies, comets and asteroids, also consists of small planets that do not fit into any of the listed categories and do not refer to dwarfish. They have their own orbits, which have not changed for millions of years. To date, scientists have been able to find about 400,000 such celestial bodies. But it is assumed that their number may be billions.
The Celestial bodies of the Solar System, falling under this category, should have a size greater than 50 m and not display cometary activity. Depending on their location in relation to the Sun, all small planets are classified. They were divided into separate groups. Many are interested in the question of what are called small planets, and who gives them names. It is worth noting that the name of the heavenly body is invented by the discoverer, but the commission of scientists must still approve it. Each of its members expresses their opinion on the correctness of the use of the name, and then a collegial decision is made.
For the first time a small planet was discovered in 1801. The discoverer was Giuseppe Piazzi, who called her Ceres. Open in the future, such celestial bodies were usually called the names of ancient Greek or Roman gods and heroes. But soon it became clear that their countless number. Therefore, it was necessary to rethink the system of their classification in the future. So, by what principle and how are small planets called?
The closest thing to the Sun is the class of volcanoids. Among them, not a single planet has been discovered because of the proximity of the luminary. Then come the atoms, which are located slightly closer to the Sun than the Earth and never cross our orbit. Near Mars is a class of Trojans of Mars, which has four planets. Also known groups of Apollo and Cupids. Near Jupiter the Trojans were grouped, and closer to Neptune was the belt of centaurs. Near the orbit of this planet are the Trojans of Neptune, then there are the trans-Neptunian objects, and the furthest celestial bodies form the Kuiper belt.
What small planets are called depends also on the group to which they refer. So, if this is a class of Trojans, then the heavenly bodies get the names of heroes of the Trojan War, if centaurs are mythological half-humans, Kuypers are the progenitors of religions and gods-builders. But there are also names of rulers, cultural and scientific figures, names of continents and countries. During the Soviet era, the Crimean Observatory was engaged in the discovery of celestial objects. At that time, many names of Russian writers, scientists and other figures were immortalized. Therefore, what are called small planets, completely depends on the discoverer.
Very often there is an opinion that the concept of a "small parade of planets" is somehow connected with such heavenly bodies. However, it is not. This phenomenon, when the four main planets gather together. It occurs every 20 years. To make it happen, it is necessary to converge with the ecliptic longitudes of objects from the side of the terrestrial observer. Visually it will look like a close arrangement in the sky. Also distinguish a large parade, visible or invisible. To receive the great parade of the planets, it is necessary that five or more celestial bodies are connected at once.