Pluto: The Frozen Planet
Credit & Copyright: R. Albrecht (ESA/ESO),
NASA
Explanation:
This portrait of Pluto and its companion
Charon was taken by the Hubble Space Telescope in 1994.
Pluto is usually the most distant planet from the
Sun but because of its
eccentric orbit Pluto crossed inside
of Neptune's orbit in 1979.
On Thursday, February 11th, it crossed back out, recovering
its status as
the most distant of
nine planets.
Pluto is
still considered to be a planet, although very little
is known about it compared to other planets.
Pluto is smaller than any
other planet and even smaller than
several other planet's moons.
Pluto is probably composed of frozen rock and ice,
much like Neptune's moon
Triton.
Pluto has not yet been
visited by a spacecraft, but a
mission is being planned for the next decade.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
