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| | Pluto
It's not classified as a planet, but as a "Pluton".
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| Pluto
Computer-generated map of Pluto from Hubble
images, synthesised true color and among the highest resolutions
possible with current technology (2011)
|
Pluto and its moons, Charon, Nix, Hydra, and P4
(Hubble Space Telescope, 2006) |
Table credit: Wikiedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pluto)
Pluton Profile ( circa 2011)
| Discovered by |
Clyde
W. Tombaugh |
| Discovery date |
February 18, 1930 |
|
Designations
|
| MPC
designation |
134340 Pluto |
| Pronunciation |
/ˈpluːtoʊ/, |
| Named after |
Pluto |
Minor planet
category |
dwarf
planet,
TNO,
plutoid,
KBO,
plutino |
| Adjective |
Plutonian |
|
|
| Epoch
J2000 |
| Aphelion |
7,311,000,000 km
48.871 AU |
| Perihelion |
4,437,000,000 km
29.657 AU
(1989 Sep 05) |
| Semi-major
axis |
5,874,000,000 km
39.264 AU |
| Eccentricity |
0.248 807 66 |
| Orbital
period |
90,613.305 days
248.09 years
14,164.4 Pluto solar
days |
| Synodic
period |
366.73 days |
| Average
orbital speed |
4.666 km/s |
| Mean
anomaly |
14.86012204° |
| Inclination |
17.141 75°
11.88° to Sun's equator |
| Longitude
of ascending node |
110.303 47° |
| Argument
of perihelion |
113.763 29° |
| Satellites |
4 |
|
Physical characteristics
|
| Mean radius |
1,153 ± 10 km
(0.18 Earths)
1161 km (solid) |
| Surface
area |
1.665×107
km2
0.033 Earths |
| Volume |
6.39×109
km3
0.0059 Earths |
| Mass |
(1.305 ± 0.007)×1022
kg
0.00218 Earths
0.178 Moons |
| Mean density |
2.03 ± 0.06 g/cm3 |
| Equatorial
surface gravity |
0.658 m/s2
0.067 g |
| Escape
velocity |
1.229 km/s |
Sidereal
rotation
period |
−6.387
230 day
6 d 9 h 17 m 36 s |
| Equatorial rotation velocity |
47.18 km/h |
| Axial
tilt |
119.591 ± 0.014° (to orbit) |
| North pole right
ascension |
312.993° |
| North pole declination |
6.163° |
| Albedo |
0.49–0.66 (geometric,
varies by 35%) |
Surface temp.
Kelvin |
| min |
mean |
max |
| 33 K |
44 K |
55 K |
|
| Apparent
magnitude |
13.65 to 16.3
(mean is 15.1) |
| Absolute
magnitude (H) |
−0.7 |
| Angular
diameter |
0.065" to
0.115" |
|
Atmosphere
|
| Surface pressure |
0.30 Pa
(summer maximum) |
| Composition |
nitrogen,
methane,
carbon
monoxide |
More information about Pluto and other "Dwarf Planets" can be found by
clicking
here.
11/2011
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