Pluto

Introduction

A picture of the planet, Pluto in color.

Pluto is a dwarf planet located in the Kuiper Belt of the Milky-Way Galaxy. Originally Pluto was called the ninth planet in our solar system but was later reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006 by the International Astronomical Union. Pluto is the largest dwarf planet in the Kuiper Belt, because of this reclassifying Pluto as a dwarf planet was a controversial decision and is still an ongoing debate among astrologists.

History

Pluto was discovered in 1930 by Clyde Tombaugh but its existence was first theorized by Percival Lowell in 1905. it was named by an eleven-year-old girl named Venetia Burney after the Roman god of the underworld. It's about 3.6 million miles away from the Sun.

Surface and Atmosphere

Pluto's surface is composed of mountains, valleys, plains, and craters. Plains are made of frozen nitrogen gas. Pluto's mountains can be as large as 9,800 feet tall. Its temperature can range from -375 Fahrenheit to -400 degrees Fahrenheit.

Pluto's atmosphere expands and collapses depending on its proximity to the sun. This atmosphere is made mostly of Nitrogen but Carbon monoxide and Nitrogen have been detected. One day on Pluto is 153 hours long.

Pluto's Moons

Pluto has five moons, Charon, Hydra, Nix, Styx, and Kerberos. Pluto's moons get their names from Greek and Roman symbols. It's believed they were created when a large object collided with Pluto.

Charon

Charon is half the size of Pluto because of this they are sometimes considered twin planets. It's the largest and most spherical of Pluto's moons.

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