Facts for Kids
Pluto is a small, icy world at the edge of our solar system, known for its complex atmosphere and geological features.
Overview
Pluto's Moons
History Of Pluto
Orbit And Rotation
Exploration Of Pluto
Physical Characteristics
Pluto In Popular Culture
Atmosphere And Composition
Future Exploration And Research
The Debate On Planet Classification
Inside this Article
Clyde Tombaugh
New Horizons
Imagination
Information
Kuiper Belt
Temperature
Atmosphere
Discovery
Kerberos
Neptune
Did you know?
🪐 Pluto has five known moons, with Charon being the largest.
🌌 Pluto was discovered in 1930 by Clyde Tombaugh.
🌡️ The surface temperature of Pluto can drop to around -375°F (-225°C).
🔄 Pluto has an eccentric orbit that takes about 248 years to complete one revolution around the Sun.
💨 Pluto's atmosphere is primarily composed of nitrogen, with traces of methane and carbon monoxide.
🌑 Pluto's orbit sometimes brings it closer to the Sun than Neptune for a period of 20 years.
🧊 Pluto's surface is covered in ice and has large plains and mountains made of frozen nitrogen.
🌌 Pluto was reclassified from a planet to a dwarf planet in 2006 by the International Astronomical Union.
🚀 The New Horizons spacecraft flew by Pluto in July 2015, providing the first close-up images of the dwarf planet.
🌍 Pluto is classified as a dwarf planet in our solar system.
Introduction
It was discovered in 1930 by an American astronomer named Clyde Tombaugh. Pluto is large, but it's smaller than Earth's Moon! It orbits the Sun from about 4.6 billion kilometers away, which is a super long trip! 🚀
Although Pluto might not be a planet like Earth, it is still full of mysteries. It has a heart-shaped glacier called Tombaugh Regio and its surface is mostly made of ice and rock. Scientists love learning about Pluto! 🧑
🔬
Pluto's Moons
Charon is the largest moon and is nearly half the size of Pluto, making them a unique duo! Because of their sizes, Pluto and Charon actually orbit around a point in space that is between them. This is different from most planets and moons! 🌑
The other moons are much smaller and orbits are not as well known. Scientists are still learning about these moons!
History Of Pluto
Orbit And Rotation
It takes Pluto 248 Earth years to complete one trip around the Sun. This means if you were on Pluto, you would celebrate your birthday only once every 248 years! 😲
Pluto's orbit is also tilted and more elliptical than most planets, so it sometimes comes closer to the Sun than the planet Neptune. Pluto's rotation is also slow; it takes about 6.4 Earth days to spin on its axis once, which means its days are longer than ours! ⏳
Exploration Of Pluto
Launched in 2006, it zoomed past Pluto in July 2015, taking amazing pictures and gathering data. Scientists were excited to see Pluto up close! New Horizons revealed fantastic details, like mountains made of ice and the famous heart-shaped glacier, Tombaugh Regio. ❤
️ It helped scientists learn a lot more about Pluto and its atmosphere. New Horizons is now exploring other objects in the Kuiper Belt, a mysterious region beyond Pluto! 🌌
Physical Characteristics
Its surface is mainly made up of ice and rock, and it has large plains, mountains, and frozen glaciers. The temperature on Pluto is extremely cold, around -225 degrees Celsius! 🥶
Pluto's surface has a reddish-brown color because of a compound called tholins. Did you know that Pluto has a very thin atmosphere made mostly of nitrogen? Sometimes, it even forms clouds. ☁
️
Pluto In Popular Culture
In the world of Disney, Pluto is a lovable pet dog. The name Pluto became famous because of the dwarf planet, and the cartoon dog appeared shortly after Pluto's discovery in 1930! 🎥
There are also many movies, books, and shows that mention Pluto and outer space. Kids often imagine what it would be like to live on this distant dwarf planet! Stars like Pluto open up our imagination about space adventures! 🌠
Atmosphere And Composition
️ At times, when Pluto is closer to the Sun, its atmosphere can expand and form hazy clouds. As it moves away from the Sun, this atmosphere freezes back onto its surface! Pluto's icy and rocky surface is fascinating—scientists even found frozen nitrogen lakes! 🌊
The temperature can drop very low, meaning the atmosphere can't hold much heat. This is why Pluto has such a unique environment compared to the other planets. ❄
️
Future Exploration And Research
Future spacecraft missions may provide new data about Pluto and its moons. Researchers are developing advanced technologies to explore even further, possibly sending missions that could last decades. New information can help us understand how the solar system formed and the environments of distant planets. 🌍
Who knows? One day, you might help discover something incredible about Pluto too! 🧑
🔬
The Debate On Planet Classification
Before 2006, Pluto was considered the ninth planet in our solar system. However, to be a planet, you must "clear your orbit" of other objects. Since Pluto shares its orbit with other objects in the Kuiper Belt, it was reclassified. Some people still believe Pluto should be called a planet, while others agree with its current classification. This shows how science can change as we learn more! 🌌
Pluto Quiz
Frequently Asked Questions
Our Mission
To create a safe space for kid creators worldwide!
2025, URSOR LIMITED. All rights reserved. DIY is in no way affiliated with Minecraft™, Mojang, Microsoft, Roblox™ or YouTube. LEGO® is a trademark of the LEGO® Group which does not sponsor, endorse or authorize this website or event. Made with love in San Francisco.