PLUTO
Is only two-thirds the size of our moon.
1.
smallest planet in the solar system and usually
farthest from the Sun
2.
Name is derived from the Roman mythological god of
the underworld, Hades since Pluto far from the Sun and receives so little light
3.
Pluto’s orbit is tilted 17-degrees and rotates
the opposite direction from most other planets.
4.
Extreme elliptical orbit, swings inside Neptune’s
orbit once every 248 Earth years for twenty years, when it is closer to the Sun
than Neptune.
5.
Known as “ice planet” - very thin atmosphere,
probably comprised of nitrogen, carbon monoxide and methane, frozen during most
of its orbit.
6.
On the surface, temperature is bitter 35 to 45
Kelvin (-228 to –238 degrees Celsius)
7.
When closest to the Sun, atmosphere is in its
gaseous state, as nitrogen and methane frozen at poles thaw out and rise from
surface.
8.
Pluto has one natural satellite, Charon, which is
half the size of Pluto. Because
Pluto and Charon are comparable in size, many scientists consider them to be a
double planet
9.
Some astronomers don’t think Pluto is a real
planet at all, but a moon that escaped from Neptune’s gravitational pull.
10.
Only planet not yet visited by a spacecraft - NASA
to send Pluto Express to rendezvous with the planet in 2007