8 Interesting Facts About Pluto

By- Naiteek Bhatt

Despite once being considered the ninth planet in our solar system, Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006 by the International Astronomical Union (IAU).

Dwarf Planet Status

Pluto is incredibly cold, with surface temperatures dropping to about- 240 degrees Celsius.

Frozen World

A distinctive heart-shaped region on Pluto's surface was captured by NASA's New Horizons spacecraft during its historic flyby in 2015.

Heart-shaped Feature

Pluto has a thin and tenuous atmosphere primarily composed of nitrogen, methane, and carbon monoxide.

Complex Atmosphere

Pluto has five knowns moons. Charon, the largest moon, is so large in comparison to Pluto that the two bodies are often considered a binary system.

Moons Galore 

Pluto has a unique orbit that is more titled and elliptical compared to other planets in our solar system.

Unusual Tilt

Some regions on Pluto's surfaces appear to contain vast plains of frozen methane.

Frozen Methane Lakes

Pluto is situated in the Kuiper Belt, a region beyond Neptune. Its distance from  Earth varies from about 4.67 to 7.4 billion miles.

Far from Earth