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Revolution |
Rotation |
Radius |
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248.5 Earth years |
6.4 Earth days |
1,195 km |
|
Distance From the Sun |
Mass |
Density |
|
5,906,376,200 km |
0.013 x 1027 grams |
1.1 gm/cm3 |
|
Surface Temperature |
Moons |
Atmosphere |
|
Scientists are not exactly sure what the temperature on Pluto is, but most believe it is between -228° and -238°C |
1: Charon |
Nitrogen, methane and traces of carbon monoxide on the surface of Pluto thaw and rise to form an atmosphere when the planet is near the Sun. As the planet gets further away from the Sun this atmosphere freezes and fallest back to the surface of the planet. |
Pluto is the only planet that was discovered by an American, Clyde W. Tombaugh Clyde's discovered the planet on February 18, 1930.
During PASSPORT TO KNOWLEDGE'S LIVE FROM THE HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE project it was discovered that Clyde was about to celebrate his 90th birthday. Teachers and students along with the P2K staff decided to throw a big birthday celebration.
Pluto will remain the ninth planet from the Sun until September 2226 when it once again moves inside Neptune due to its unusual orbit.
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Missions: • New Horizons (Pluto-Kuiper Belt) Mission Homepage (launch 2006) • New Horizons (Pluto-Kuiper Belt) (launch 2006) |
Recent Articles: • NASA Selects Pluto-Kuiper Belt Mission for Phase B Study |
Additional Links: • JPL's Solar System Exploration • The Nine Planets • Views of the Solar System • Windows to the Universe • The Struggles to Find the Ninth Planet |
