The reason you might hear people talk about Pluto being "destroyed" is because of the reclassification of Pluto as a dwarf planet in 2006. This wasn't a destruction, but rather a redefinition of what constitutes a planet.
Here's the breakdown:
* Pluto's Size: Pluto is much smaller than the eight major planets in our solar system.
* Orbit: Pluto's orbit is not a clean circle, but rather an elliptical path that crosses the orbit of Neptune.
* Icy Objects: Pluto shares its orbital region with a large number of other icy objects called Kuiper Belt objects.
Because of these factors, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) decided that Pluto did not meet the criteria for a full-fledged planet. The criteria are:
1. Orbits the Sun: Pluto does this.
2. Has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a hydrostatic equilibrium (nearly round shape): Pluto is roundish, but not perfectly spherical.
3. Has cleared the neighborhood around its orbit: Pluto shares its space with many other icy objects.
Pluto still remains an incredibly fascinating and interesting celestial body, even though it's no longer considered a planet.
