Dwarf planets
Small, round worlds that share their orbits with other bodies. Only Ceres is within reach of binoculars; the rest need a telescope or are beyond any backyard instrument.
Dwarf planets in SkyMate
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What makes a dwarf planet?
In 2006 the International Astronomical Union defined a planet as a body that orbits the Sun, is massive enough to pull itself into a round shape, and has cleared its orbit of other material. A dwarf planet meets the first two conditions but not the third: it shares its neighborhood with other bodies, such as the asteroid belt or the Kuiper Belt beyond Neptune.
Ceres is the exception for observers. At its best it reaches about magnitude 7, within reach of ordinary binoculars as a faint star that shifts position from night to night. Pluto needs a sizable telescope, a detailed chart and patience. The others are beyond backyard instruments, but you can still look toward where they are.