Pluto the former planet

Originally the ninth planet from the Sun, Pluto was recategorized as a dwarf planet as it was discovered that it is one of numerous large bodies within the Kuiper Belt. Pluto is not visible without the aid of a larg telescope and some patience may be needed to locate it over several nights.

Pluto, along with it's largest moon Charon, are considered a double dwarf planetary system, and is sometimes referred to as the Pluto-Charon system. Charon is 51% the size of Pluto. Pluto's surface consists of 98% nitrogen ice with ice mountains, ice volcanoes, and has a thin atmosphere consisting of nitrogen and trace gases. A subsurface ocean of liquid water is likely.

Pluto 4K image (pan-zoom)

Pan, zoom, or go full-screen with this megapixel image of Pluto.

Pluto facts

Pluto surface features

Notable surface features of Pluto:

Moons of Pluto

Pluto has five natural satellites - listed below in order of size. For more information, see Moons of Pluto.

Charon

Hydra

Nix

Kerberos

Styx

Pluto vs. Earth ratios

Planet sizes are to relative scale.

PLUTO

diameter = 0.186
gravity = 0.07
radiation = 65
surface pressure = ~0
solar irradiance = ~0
total water =
day = 6.4
year = 248
sun distance = 39.5

EARTH

diameter = 1
gravity = 1
radiation = 1
surface pressure = 1
solar irradiance = 1
total water = 1
day = 1
year = 1
sun distance = 1