Pluto: The Beloved Dwarf Planet
Exploring the most distant world ever visited by humanity - a complex, active, and surprising dwarf planet at the edge of our solar system
Pluto Quick Facts
Amazing Pluto Facts
Tiny but Mighty
Pluto is smaller than Earth's Moon but has five moons of its own and a complex, active geology that rivals much larger worlds.
Extreme Distance
Sunlight takes over 5 hours to reach Pluto. From Pluto's surface, the Sun appears as just a bright star in the sky.
Historic Discovery
Pluto was discovered by comparing photographic plates - a 24-year-old astronomer spotted it moving against the background stars.
Naming Contest
Pluto was named by an 11-year-old English schoolgirl, Venetia Burney, who suggested the Roman god of the underworld.
Double Planet
Pluto and Charon orbit around a point in space between them - they're more like a double planet than a planet and moon.
Changing Seasons
A person born during Pluto's winter would be 62 years old before experiencing spring - each season lasts over 60 Earth years!
The New Horizons Legacy
The New Horizons mission transformed Pluto from a fuzzy dot into a real, complex world with mountains, plains, weather, and five moons.
It showed us that even the most distant worlds in our solar system can be geologically active and full of surprises.
Pluto reminded us that exploration reveals wonders we never imagined possible.