Here's why:
* Orbits the Sun: Planets are celestial bodies that orbit a star, and in our solar system, that star is the Sun.
* Visible from Earth: Planets are large enough and bright enough to be visible from Earth, especially with the naked eye.
* Cleared its orbital path: This is the defining characteristic of a planet. It means that a planet has become gravitationally dominant in its orbital region, pushing away or absorbing smaller objects.
While there are other objects in our solar system that orbit the Sun, like asteroids and dwarf planets, they haven't cleared their orbital paths. This is why Pluto, once considered a planet, was reclassified as a dwarf planet.
