Pluto (disambiguation) facts for kids

Pluto is a dwarf planet located very far away in our solar system. It is a small, icy world that orbits the Sun beyond Neptune.

Pluto is famous for being reclassified from a full planet to a dwarf planet in 2006. Scientists continue to study Pluto to learn more about its unique features and its place in space.

Pluto: The Dwarf Planet

What is Pluto?

Pluto is a dwarf planet. It is a small, round object that orbits the Sun. Unlike a full planet, a dwarf planet has not cleared its orbital path of other debris. Pluto is one of the largest known dwarf planets.

Where is Pluto?

Pluto is located in the Kuiper Belt. This is a huge ring of icy bodies beyond the orbit of Neptune. It is very far from the Sun, making it a cold and dark place. It takes Pluto about 248 Earth years to complete one orbit around the Sun.

How Was Pluto Discovered?

Pluto was discovered on February 18, 1930. An American astronomer named Clyde Tombaugh found it. He was working at the Lowell Observatory in Arizona. Scientists had predicted there might be another planet beyond Neptune.

Why is Pluto a Dwarf Planet?

For many years, Pluto was considered the ninth planet. However, in 2006, astronomers changed its status. The International Astronomical Union (IAU) created a new definition for a planet. Pluto did not meet all the new rules. It shares its orbit with many other objects in the Kuiper Belt. This is why it is now called a dwarf planet.

Pluto's Moons

Pluto has five known moons. The largest and most famous moon is Charon. Charon is so big that Pluto and Charon are sometimes called a "double dwarf planet" system. The other four moons are much smaller. They are named Styx, Nix, Kerberos, and Hydra.

Charon: Pluto's Biggest Moon

Charon is about half the size of Pluto. It orbits Pluto very closely. They are tidally locked, meaning they always show the same face to each other. This is similar to how our Moon always shows the same face to Earth.

Exploring Pluto: The New Horizons Mission

In 2006, NASA launched the New Horizons spacecraft. Its mission was to fly by Pluto and study it up close. On July 14, 2015, New Horizons made its closest approach to Pluto. It sent back amazing pictures and data. This mission taught us a lot about Pluto's surface, atmosphere, and moons.

What is Pluto Made Of?

Pluto's surface is very cold. It is covered in frozen nitrogen, methane, and carbon monoxide. It also has mountains of water ice. Below the surface, scientists believe Pluto has a rocky core. It might even have a liquid ocean deep inside.

Other Meanings of Pluto

The name "Pluto" can also refer to other things:

• Pluto (mythology): This is the name of the ancient Roman god of the underworld. He was also known as Hades in Greek mythology.
• Pluto (Disney): This is the name of the famous dog character. He is the loyal pet of Mickey Mouse in Disney cartoons.

See also

In Spanish: Pluto para niños