Pluto

OverviewOrigin HistoryOrbitRotationGeologyMass and sizeAtmosphere

Pluto''s origin and identity had long puzzled astronomers. One early hypothesis was that Pluto was an escaped moon of Neptune knocked out of orbit by Neptune''s largest moon, Triton. This idea was eventually rejected after dynamical studies showed it to be impossible because Pluto never approaches Neptune in its orbit.

Did Pluto ever actually stop being a planet? Experts debate.

In 2006, the world lost a lot of stars—actress Shelley Winters, soul icon James Brown, naturalist Steve Irwin—but only one planet: Pluto. Declared the ninth planet in our solar system after

Pluto isn''t a planet — but it gives us clues for how the solar system

Though Pluto has formally been considered a dwarf planet for almost two decades, it still has many lessons left for planetary scientists — including hints about how the solar system formed.

Pluto | Size, Moons, Temperature, & Facts | Britannica

Pluto, large, distant member of the solar system that formerly was regarded as the outermost and smallest planet also was considered the most recently discovered planet, having been found in 1930. In August 2006 the International Astronomical Union (IAU), the organization charged by the scientific community with classifying astronomical objects, voted to remove

The Nine Planets of The Solar System | Eight Planets Without Pluto

(We still love you, Pluto!) An overview of the history, mythology and current scientific knowledge of the planets, moons and other objects in our solar system. Menu. The Sun is the heart of our solar system and its gravity is what keeps every planet and particle in orbit. This yellow dwarf star is just one of billions like it across the

Why is Pluto no longer a planet?

International Astronomical Union (IAU): Pluto and the Developing Landscape of our Solar System External - A discussion about Pluto from IAU that includes a history, references to how a planet is defined and a link to the report on the final resolution.

In Depth | Our Solar System – NASA Solar System Exploration

Introduction. The planetary system we call home is located in an outer spiral arm of the Milky Way galaxy. Our solar system consists of our star, the Sun, and everything bound to it by gravity – the planets Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune; dwarf planets such as Pluto; dozens of moons; and millions of asteroids, comets, and meteoroids.

What Is Pluto? (Grades 5-8)

Hydra spins fastest at 89 times for every orbit around Pluto! The smaller moons of Pluto also wobble much more than other moons. These moons wobble like spinning tops. Another difference between Pluto''s moons and other moons in the solar system is that it seems that at least two of Pluto''s moons were formed when two smaller, rocky bodies

Solar System Exploration

We mean waaaay out there in our solar system – where the forecast might not be quite what you think. Let''s look at the mean temperature of the Sun, and the planets in our solar system. The mean temperature is the average temperature over the surface of the rocky planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. Dwarf planet Pluto also has a solid

Why is Pluto no longer considered a planet? | HowStuffWorks

Pluto''s orbit is erratic. The planets in our solar system all orbit the sun in a relatively flat plane. Pluto, however, orbits the sun at a 17-degree angle to this plane. In addition, its orbit is exceptionally elliptical and crosses Neptune''s orbit. One of its moons, Charon, is about half Pluto''s size. Some astronomers have recommended that

All About Pluto | NASA Space Place – NASA Science for Kids

· Pluto is a dwarf planet that lies in the Kuiper [KI-per] Belt. It''s an area full of icy bodies and other dwarf planets at the edge of our solar system. Pluto is known as the "King of

Our Solar System

Imagine entering our solar system from interstellar space. As you travel toward our Sun, you would move through three distinct regions. First you would pass countless icy worlds. Then you would enter the realm of the giant planets. Finally, you would reach the rocky planets closest to the Sun. Let''s take a look at our solar system—from the

Pluto By the Numbers – NASA Solar System Exploration

Pluto was once our solar system''s ninth planet, but has been reclassified as a dwarf planet. It''s located in the Kuiper Belt. NASA. Solar System Exploration Our Galactic Neighborhood. Skip Navigation. menu close modal Pluto By the Numbers More Destinations Click for more Jupiter Click for more Earth Click for more

Pluto: Everything you need to know about the dwarf planet

Compared with most of the solar system''s planets and moons, the Pluto-Charon system is tipped on its side in relation to the sun. Observations of Charon by New Horizons have revealed the presence

The Planets In Order | From The Sun, Information, History

Though we must sadly disconsider Pluto, here are some quick facts about each planet of the Solar System. Mercury. Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun. It is only 58 million km / 36 million mi or 0.39 AU away. Though it is the closest, it isn''t the hottest planet in the Solar System; Venus holds that titled.

Solar system | Definition, Planets, Diagram, Videos, & Facts

· The solar system''s several billion comets are found mainly in two distinct reservoirs. The more-distant one, called the Oort cloud, is a spherical shell surrounding the solar system at a distance of approximately 50,000 astronomical units (AU)—more than 1,000 times the distance of Pluto''s orbit. The other reservoir, the Kuiper belt, is a thick disk-shaped zone whose main

Let''s learn about Pluto

These features and others make up Pluto''s richly varied topography — another reason some scientists say Pluto should count as a planet. Even as the debate over Pluto''s planetary status rages on, some sky watchers seek a new ninth planet. This would be a planet about 10 times as massive as Earth, lurking on the fringes of the solar system.

Why Is Pluto No Longer a Planet? | Britannica

The main event of the 2006 General Assembly of the IAU, the proposal that would come to demote Pluto, was a defining moment for the rest of the solar system as well. Fiercely debated by the members of the union, the resolution that was passed officially defined the term planet .

Pluto Facts | Atmosphere, Surface, Moons,

Pluto is the largest known dwarf planet in the Solar System, discovered in 1930. It was thought to be the 9 th planet of our system for 75 years until the discovery of Eris and other similar objects that led to its demotion

Pluto | Size, Moons, Temperature, & Facts | Britannica

Pluto, large, distant member of the solar system that formerly was regarded as the outermost and smallest planet. In 2006 a group of experts in the scientific community voted to give Pluto the new classification of dwarf planet.

Planet Sizes and Locations in Our Solar System

Pluto. Pluto is the largest dwarf planet in our solar system, just slightly larger than Eris, at number two. Pluto has an equatorial diameter of about 1,477 miles (2,377 kilometers). Pluto is about 1/5th the width of Earth.

About the Planets

Our solar system has eight planets, and five dwarf planets - all located in an outer spiral arm of the Milky Way galaxy called the Orion Arm. Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. There are five officially recognized dwarf planets in our solar system: Ceres, Pluto, Haumea, Makemake, and Eris. 8. Planets. 5. Dwarf Planets.

Five Years after New Horizons'' Historic Flyby, Here Are 10

The encounter—which also included a detailed look at the largest of Pluto''s five moons, Charon—capped the initial reconnaissance of the planets started by NASA''s Mariner 2 more than 50 years before, and revealed an icy world replete in magnificent landscapes and geology—towering mountains, giant ice sheets, pits, scarps, valleys and terrains seen