Why is Pluto classified as a dwarf planet?

Pluto is classified as a dwarf planet primarily due to its inability to meet all the criteria set forth by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) for full planetary status. One of the key criteria for being classified as a planet is that an object must clear its orbital neighborhood of other debris. Although Pluto has a similar mass to other objects in the Kuiper Belt, it does not dominate its orbit in the same way that true planets do. Therefore, its mass relative to other celestial bodies in its vicinity is crucial in defining it as a dwarf planet rather than a full-fledged planet.

In addition, although Pluto does have characteristics such as being smaller than Earth, its classification is not solely based on size, but rather on its gravitational influence within its orbit. Other factors like the presence of moons or the distance from the sun do not directly impact its classification as a dwarf planet in the same way that its mass and orbital characteristics do.