Pluto is a dwarf planet located in our solar system. It was once considered the ninth planet, but in 2006, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) redefined the definition of a planet, and Pluto no longer met the criteria.

Here are some key facts about Pluto:

Size and Distance: Pluto is the largest known dwarf planet in our solar system. It has a diameter of about 2,376 kilometers (1,476 miles), which is roughly two-thirds the size of Earth’s moon. Its average distance from the Sun is approximately 5.9 billion kilometers (3.67 billion miles).

Orbit and Rotation: Pluto has an eccentric and tilted orbit compared to the major planets. It takes about 248 Earth years to complete one orbit around the Sun. Pluto also has a slow rotation, completing a full rotation on its axis in about 6.4 Earth days.

Composition: Pluto is primarily composed of rock and ice, similar to other dwarf planets in the Kuiper Belt. Its surface is covered in a layer of frozen nitrogen, methane, and carbon monoxide. It also has mountains, plains, and valleys.

Moons: Pluto has five known moons: Charon, Styx, Nix, Kerberos, and Hydra. The largest moon, Charon, is so massive that the Pluto-Charon system is often referred to as a binary system.

New Horizons Mission: In July 2015, NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft conducted a flyby of Pluto, providing us with the most detailed images and data we have of the dwarf planet to date. The mission revealed a complex and geologically active world with a diverse landscape.

Despite no longer being classified as a planet, Pluto remains an intriguing object of study for astronomers and planetary scientists. Its exploration has provided valuable insights into the outer regions of our solar system and the dynamics of dwarf planets.