Pluto 101 | National Geographic | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Pluto, a dwarf planet in the Kuiper belt, has a small size, extreme temperatures, icy surface, thin atmosphere, and was reclassified from being a true planet in 2006.

Key Insights

• 🛩️ Pluto is one of the largest bodies in the Kuiper belt but is significantly smaller than the solar system's eight true planets.
• 😀 It takes 248 Earth years for Pluto to orbit the Sun from an average distance of over 3.6 billion miles.
• 👨‍🎤 The extreme temperatures on Pluto's surface shape its geological composition, with a core made of rock and metals and a crust made of rock material and different types of ice.
• 🥶 Pluto's icy terrain resembles Earth's, with polar ice caps, valleys, planes, and craters.
• 😘 The dwarf planet's thin atmosphere, low gravity, and distances from the Sun lead to unique features such as blue skies, frozen nitrogen glaciers, and snowy precipitation.
• 🥮 Five moons orbit Pluto, with Charon being the largest and the other four (Nix, Hydra, Kerberos, and Styx) being smaller.
• 🪐 Pluto was discovered in 1930 and was considered the ninth planet until it was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006 due to its failure to clear its orbit of debris.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: What is the temperature on Pluto's surface?

The temperature on Pluto's surface ranges between negative 375 and negative 400 degrees Fahrenheit due to its significant distance from the Sun.

Q: What is the composition of Pluto's crust?

Pluto's crust is made up of rock material and various types of ice, including frozen carbon monoxide, methane, and nitrogen.

Q: How does Pluto's atmosphere contribute to its unique features?

Pluto's thin atmosphere, composed of nitrogen and methane gases, along with red hydrocarbon particles that scatter sunlight, gives it blue skies and the ability to form glaciers and snowy precipitates.

Q: What led to Pluto being reclassified as a dwarf planet?

Pluto's inability to clear its orbit of debris compromised its status as a true planet, leading to its reclassification by the International Astronomical Union in 2006.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• Nestled in the Kuiper belt, Pluto is a dwarf planet that pushes the boundaries of our understanding of the solar system.

• It is only half the width of the contiguous United States and is covered with ice and rock material on its surface.

• Pluto's thin atmosphere, low gravity, and extreme temperatures contribute to its unique geological composition.