PlutoPluto

By: Morgan Barksdale By: Morgan Barksdale

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Madison Dixon Madison Dixon

What Pluto is…What Pluto is…

Pluto used to be known as the 9Pluto used to be known as the 9thth planet in planet in our solar system. But, now it is known as a our solar system. But, now it is known as a “dwarf planet.”“dwarf planet.”

Pluto is basically considered a “smaller Pluto is basically considered a “smaller solar system body” and it is categorized solar system body” and it is categorized with asteroids such as Ceres.with asteroids such as Ceres.

Also, the fact that Pluto orbits around the Also, the fact that Pluto orbits around the planet Neptune makes it a “dwarf planet”planet Neptune makes it a “dwarf planet”

What Pluto is made of…What Pluto is made of…

Scientist say that Pluto is made mostly of Scientist say that Pluto is made mostly of frozen nitrogen ice. frozen nitrogen ice.

Pluto is not like the other outer gas planets Pluto is not like the other outer gas planets because it is the only planet after Jupiter because it is the only planet after Jupiter that has no gas.that has no gas.

It does not have gas because it is so far It does not have gas because it is so far away from the sun that the nitrogen away from the sun that the nitrogen freezes. freezes.

Gender: MasculineGender: MasculineUsage: Greek Mythology (Latinized), Roman Usage: Greek Mythology (Latinized), Roman MythologyMythologyPronounced: PLOO-toPronounced: PLOO-toIt comes from the Greek word Plouton which It comes from the Greek word Plouton which means “wealth”means “wealth”This was an alternate name for Hades, who was This was an alternate name for Hades, who was the god of the underworld.the god of the underworld.It might have gotten this name because it is It might have gotten this name because it is always in darkness just like the underworldalways in darkness just like the underworld

Where the name “Pluto” Where the name “Pluto” originated…originated…

The color…The color…

Most people assume that Most people assume that the color of Pluto is blue, the color of Pluto is blue, but its notbut its notPluto is thought to be a Pluto is thought to be a light brown light brown It is expected to be light It is expected to be light brown because of the brown because of the existence of dirty existence of dirty methane ice on the methane ice on the surfacesurfaceScientist don’t know the Scientist don’t know the “definite” color since it “definite” color since it has never actually been has never actually been visited by a spacecraftvisited by a spacecraft

The size…The size…

Pluto is the tiniest planet in our solar systemPluto is the tiniest planet in our solar systemIt is about 2080 kilometers in diameter which is about one-It is about 2080 kilometers in diameter which is about one-sixth the diameter of the earthsixth the diameter of the earthMany moons of the other planets are larger than Pluto Many moons of the other planets are larger than Pluto (If Earth was a soccer ball, Pluto would be a ping-pong (If Earth was a soccer ball, Pluto would be a ping-pong ball)ball)

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http://www.akat.org/cesitli/space_jigsaw.shttp://www.akat.org/cesitli/space_jigsaw.swfwf

Pluto’s shape and tilt…Pluto’s shape and tilt…

Pluto has a spherical shape (circle)Pluto has a spherical shape (circle)

It might have this shape because of a It might have this shape because of a collision of two twin comets collision of two twin comets

This collision of the twin comets may have This collision of the twin comets may have also created one of Pluto's moons, Charon also created one of Pluto's moons, Charon

Pluto has a tilt of 17 degrees Pluto has a tilt of 17 degrees

Pluto’s tilt keeps it from intersecting the Pluto’s tilt keeps it from intersecting the orbit of Neptuneorbit of Neptune

The 3 moons of Pluto…The 3 moons of Pluto…

Pluto’s biggest moon is known as Charon. It Pluto’s biggest moon is known as Charon. It was discovered in 1978 and orbits about 12,000 was discovered in 1978 and orbits about 12,000 miles away from the planet.miles away from the planet.

Recently, two other moons were discovered. Recently, two other moons were discovered. They were called P1 and P2. They were called P1 and P2.

Last May, Pluto’s other two satellites (moons) Last May, Pluto’s other two satellites (moons) were found by a team of scientist looking were found by a team of scientist looking through the Hubble Space Telescope. They through the Hubble Space Telescope. They named Pluto’s new found moons Nix and Hydra.named Pluto’s new found moons Nix and Hydra.

Pictures of Pluto and Charon…Pictures of Pluto and Charon…

The orbit…The orbit…

Pluto’s orbit has been found to be non Pluto’s orbit has been found to be non coplanar to the other eight planets.coplanar to the other eight planets.Neptune and Pluto seem to have a Neptune and Pluto seem to have a relationship when it comes to their orbits relationship when it comes to their orbits because in the time it takes Pluto to orbit because in the time it takes Pluto to orbit the sun twice, Neptune has already orbited the sun twice, Neptune has already orbited three times.three times.Also, Pluto orbits Neptune without Also, Pluto orbits Neptune without intersecting Neptune's orbit intersecting Neptune's orbit

Pluto’s Atmosphere…Pluto’s Atmosphere…

Pluto is one of four atmospheres that is Pluto is one of four atmospheres that is mostly made up of molecular nitrogen mostly made up of molecular nitrogen

The atmosphere is extremely thin and as The atmosphere is extremely thin and as Pluto arrives at its closets point to the sun Pluto arrives at its closets point to the sun the iced surface melts and as Pluto goes the iced surface melts and as Pluto goes away from the sun it refreezesaway from the sun it refreezes

The temperature ranges from -400 to -360 The temperature ranges from -400 to -360 Fahrenheit Fahrenheit

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http://www.childrensuniversity.manchester.http://www.childrensuniversity.manchester.ac.uk/interactives/science/earthandbeyondac.uk/interactives/science/earthandbeyond/earthandbeyond_c.swf/earthandbeyond_c.swf

Revolution and RotationRevolution and Rotation

It takes Pluto and It takes Pluto and average 59884 days average 59884 days to make a complete to make a complete revolutionrevolution

It also takes Pluto It also takes Pluto sixteen hours to make sixteen hours to make one rotation on its one rotation on its axisaxis

ReferencesReferences

www.nineplanets.org/pluto.htmlwww.nineplanets.org/pluto.html

www.solarviews.com/eng/pluto.htmwww.solarviews.com/eng/pluto.htm

www.solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/profile.www.solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/profile.cfm?Object=Plutocfm?Object=Pluto