Facts About The Planet Pluto
Until recently, the planet Pluto was thought to be the farthest planet from the sun. Following are facts about the planet Pluto.
Facts About The Planet Pluto
Pluto has been at the heart of a long running dispute. Initially, many scientists were skeptical that Pluto even existed since it was originally found by its gravitational effect, not a physical image. A general consensus was eventually reached that Pluto existed, but this led to another dispute.
A second dispute regarding Pluto has arisen because of the discovery of three things. First, scientists have recently discovered two additional gravitational signatures that indicate there are two additional planetoids beyond Pluto. Second, further analysis has revealed Pluto appears to be a relatively small rock structure. Third, Pluto and the two new planetoids are relatively close to the Kuiper Belt, a huge belt of meteors and asteroids on the rim of our solar system.
The new dispute boils down to the very basic question, “How do we define a planet?” Put another way, at what point does a large asteroid or meteor become a planet? This question has come to forefront because there is a general suspicion that the Kuiper Belt most likely contains many large structures similar to the size of Pluto. So far, the powers that be have not reached a consensus on the subject.
While the planet Pluto is a subject of much dispute, there are some basic facts we do know:
- Clyde Tombaugh discovered Pluto in 1930.
- Pluto is named after Hades, the Greek God of the underworld. Pluto is the Roman translation.
- Pluto is so far from the Sun, it takes sunlight over 5 hours to reach it. In contrast, sunlight reaches the Earth in 8 minutes.
- Pluto orbits the sun once ever 248 years.
- Pluto is two-thirds the size of our moon.
- Pluto is so cold, hydrogen and nitrogen freeze. On Earth, we breathe these gases to live.
- Pluto is believed to have an average temperature of roughly -63 degrees Celsius.
- Pluto has one moon known by the name Charon.
- The first time we will visit Pluto for a significant orbital period is in 2015, when the probe New Horizons is scheduled to arrive. It was launched in January 2006.
- Pluto is believed to have two additional moons, but their existence has yet to be confirmed.
- Pluto has an eccentric orbit, which means it is occasionally closer to the Sun than Neptune.
- Pluto is believed to be roughly 70 percent rock and 30 percent water.
- Nothing definitive is known about the atmosphere of Pluto or whether it even has one.
- One theory suggests Pluto is not a planet, but a twin moon to Triton. Triton is the moon orbiting Neptune and seems to have nearly the same characteristics of Pluto.
- One day on Pluto is equivalent to 6 and a half days on Earth.
Unlike many of the planets in our neighborhood of the solar system, Pluto is nearly a complete mystery. These facts about the planet Pluto should wet your appetite to learn more as they have done with scientists. Until the New Horizons probe arrives in 2015, there may be no new definitive facts on Pluto for some time. Don't worry, we'll update this page when it occurs!
