Quick Facts
Interesting Facts
Quick Facts
2. It was originally classified as the ninth planet in our solar system.
3. In 2006, the International Astronomical Union reclassified Pluto as a "dwarf planet."
4. Pluto is the largest known dwarf planet in our solar system.
5. It has five known moons: Charon, Styx, Nix, Kerberos, and Hydra.
6. Pluto is named after the Roman god of the underworld.
7. It is part of the Kuiper Belt, a region of the solar system beyond Neptune.
8. Pluto is made mostly of rock and ice.
9. Its surface is covered in methane, nitrogen, and carbon monoxide ice.
10. It has a thin atmosphere of nitrogen, methane, and carbon monoxide.
11. Pluto's average surface temperature is -229 degrees Celsius.
12. It is estimated to have formed about 4.6 billion years ago.
13. Pluto has a large, icy heart-shaped feature called the Tombaugh Regio.
14. It has a day length of 6.39 Earth days.
15. Pluto is one of the most remote objects in our solar system.
16. It has an elliptical orbit that takes it as far as 49 astronomical units (AU) from the Sun.
17. One Pluto year is 248.09 Earth years.
18. Its orbit is tilted 17 degrees relative to the plane of the solar system.
19. Pluto's largest moon, Charon, is nearly half its size.
20. Charon and Pluto are often referred to as a "binary planet" system.
21. Charon has its own unique landscape, including a massive canyon.
22. Styx, Nix, Kerberos, and Hydra were all discovered in the early 21st century.
23. In 2015, NASA's New Horizons spacecraft became the first spacecraft to visit Pluto.
24. New Horizons discovered many surprises on Pluto, including mountains of water ice.
25. The mission also found signs of a subsurface ocean on Pluto.
26. It has a strange and varied geology, with landscapes that include craters, valleys, and smooth plains.
27. Some scientists believe there could be a subsurface ocean of liquid water on Pluto.
28. Pluto has a weak, variable atmosphere that expands and contracts as it moves closer and further from the Sun.
29. Its atmosphere is also affected by its moons, particularly Charon.
30. Scientists believe Pluto may have a subsurface layer of liquid nitrogen that contributes to its weak atmosphere.
31. The New Horizons mission showed that Pluto has a complex and varied landscape, with a range of colors and textures.
32. The dwarf planet's surface is thought to have been shaped by processes such as freezing and thawing of volatile ices.
33. There is evidence of past geological activity on Pluto, including cryovolcanism.
34. Cryovolcanoes on Pluto are thought to have erupted with a mixture of water, nitrogen, and other volatile ices.
35. Scientists believe that Pluto may still be geologically active, with a subsurface ocean driving geological changes.
36. There is also evidence of possible past or current geological activity on its largest moon, Charon.
37. Some scientists believe that Charon may have its own subsurface ocean, similar to Pluto.
38. Charon is also thought to have a unique, diverse geology, including a massive canyon.
39. There may be other small, icy objects in the Kuiper Belt like Pluto, waiting to be discovered.
40. Some scientists believe that Kuiper Belt objects like Pluto could hold clues to the early formation of our solar system.
Interesting Facts
41. The New Horizons mission has led to many new discoveries and raised many questions about Pluto and the Kuiper Belt.42. There is ongoing scientific research on Pluto, including the study of its atmosphere, geology, and potential habitability.
43. Some scientists believe that Pluto and its moons could be capable of supporting microbial life.
44. The New Horizons mission has also improved our understanding of other small, icy objects in the Kuiper Belt.
45. Pluto has a low albedo, meaning that it reflects very little light, making it difficult to see from Earth.
46. It was first photographed in 2015 by the New Horizons spacecraft.
47. The first close-up images of Pluto and its moons were taken by New Horizons in 2015.
48. Scientists are still studying data collected by the New Horizons mission and making new discoveries about Pluto and the Kuiper Belt.
49. There have been discussions of sending future missions to Pluto to continue exploring this fascinating dwarf planet and its moons.
50. Despite its reclassification as a dwarf planet, Pluto remains a popular object of study and fascination among scientists and the general public.
How big is Pluto compared to Earth?
Pluto is much smaller than Earth. It is only about 1/6 the size of Earth's moon and has a diameter of approximately 2,377 kilometers.
How far is Pluto from the Sun?
The average distance of Pluto from the Sun is about 5.9 billion kilometers (39.5 astronomical units).
Is Pluto a planet or a dwarf planet?
In 2006, the International Astronomical Union reclassified Pluto as a "dwarf planet."
What is the surface of Pluto like?
The surface of Pluto is covered in a layer of frozen gases, including nitrogen, methane, and carbon monoxide. It is also dotted with craters, valleys, and smooth plains, and has a range of colors and textures.
Does Pluto have any moons?
Yes, Pluto has five known moons: Charon, Styx, Nix, Kerberos, and Hydra.
What was the first spacecraft to visit Pluto?
The first spacecraft to visit Pluto was NASA's New Horizons, which flew by the dwarf planet in 2015.
Is there life on Pluto?
Currently, there is no evidence of life on Pluto. However, some scientists believe that the dwarf planet and its moons could be capable of supporting microbial life.What is the atmosphere of Pluto like?
A: Pluto has a thin atmosphere of nitrogen, methane, and carbon monoxide. It is also affected by its moons, particularly Charon, and expands and contracts as it moves closer and further from the Sun.
What is the temperature on Pluto?
The temperature on Pluto ranges from -229°C (-380°F) at its coldest to -223°C (-369°F) at its warmest.
How long is a day on Pluto?
A day on Pluto, or one rotation on its axis, takes approximately 6.39 Earth days.
What is the largest moon of Pluto?
Charon is the largest moon of Pluto, and it is approximately half the size of Pluto itself.
When was Pluto discovered?
Pluto was discovered on February 18, 1930 by American astronomer Clyde Tombaugh.
What was the inspiration for naming Pluto?
Pluto was named after the Roman god of the underworld, as suggested by Venetia Burney, an 11-year-old girl from England.
How did the discovery of Pluto change our understanding of the solar system?
The discovery of Pluto challenged our understanding of the solar system and led to a reconsideration of the definitions of "planet" and "dwarf planet." It also expanded our understanding of the Kuiper Belt, a region of the solar system beyond Neptune that is home to many small, icy objects.
Why was Pluto reclassified as a dwarf planet?
Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet because it did not meet the International Astronomical Union's definition of a planet, which requires a celestial body to have cleared its orbit of other debris.
What is the current status of the New Horizons mission to Pluto?
The New Horizons mission to Pluto was a success, and the spacecraft has continued on to explore other objects in the Kuiper Belt. The mission is ongoing and scientists are still analyzing data collected during the flyby.
How much does Pluto weigh?
The estimated mass of Pluto is approximately 1.31 × 10^22 kilograms.
How long does it take for Pluto to orbit the Sun?
Pluto takes approximately 248.09 Earth years to orbit the Sun.
What is the shape of Pluto's orbit?
Pluto has a highly elliptical orbit that takes it from inside the orbit of Neptune to beyond it.
What is the surface temperature on Charon, Pluto's largest moon?
The surface temperature on Charon ranges from -223°C (-369°F) at its warmest to -223°C (-380°F) at its coldest.
What is the surface of Charon like?
Charon has a relatively smooth, heavily cratered surface with cliffs, valleys, and troughs.
What is the significance of the New Horizons mission to Pluto?
The New Horizons mission to Pluto was significant because it provided the first close-up images and data of the dwarf planet and its moons, and greatly expanded our understanding of this far-off corner of the solar system.
Are there any future missions planned to Pluto?
There are currently no specific plans for future missions to Pluto, but it is possible that future missions to the Kuiper Belt could include flybys or close-up observations of the dwarf planet and its moons.