Plus you can learn more about what’s in our Solar System with our Top 10 Facts on the Sun and the Moon; the planets Earth, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune and the dwarf planet Pluto.

Welcome to the fascinating world of Pluto! Pluto was first discovered in 1930 and is the most famous dwarf planet in the Solar System. In 2006, it was reclassified as a dwarf planet. Here are some of the most interesting facts about Pluto.

1. Pluto is a Dwarf Planet

Pluto is a Dwarf Planet. Dwarf planets are smaller than planets. The first three objects classified as dwarf planets were Pluto, Eris, and Ceres.

2. Pluto was considered a planet until 2006

In August 2006 the International Astronomical Union (IAU) downgraded the status of Pluto from planet to “dwarf planet.”

3. Pluto lies in the Kuiper Belt

The Kuiper Belt is a donut-shaped region of icy bodies beyond the orbit of Neptune. This is where Pluto can be found

4. Sometimes Pluto is closer to The Sun than Neptune

Because of its elliptical orbit it means that on occasion Pluto is actually closer to The Sun than Neptune.

5. Pluto is smaller than the Moon

Pluto is really small for something in space, in fact it’s smaller than Earth’s Moon. It’s radius is 1,188.3 km.

6. There are white mountains on Pluto

Pluto is the only place other than Earth in our solar system that has white-peaked mountains, but these white caps aren’t made of snow. Instead, they’re made of methane frost.

7. A year on Pluto is 248 Earth years

It takes Pluto 248 Earth years to orbit the Sun. This means a year on the Dward Planet is the same as 248 Earth years.

8. A day on Pluto lasts 153 hours, or about 6 Earth days.

It take Pluto about 6 Earth days to turn on its axis meaning a day for Pluto is 153 hours.

9. Pluto has 5 Moons

Pluto has 5 moons. The largest is Charon, it’s so big that Pluto and Charon orbit each other like a double planet. Can you imagine watching the night sky from Pluto?

10. You’ll need a big coat to visit Pluto – it’s cold!

Pluto is very far from the Sun so it’s super cold. In facts it’s -228 to -238 C, which is too cold for humans to live there.

Let’s keep learning with our Top 10 Facts about Space and Top 10 Facts about the Solar System. Plus you can learn more about what’s in our Solar System with our Top 10 Facts on the Sun and the Moon; the planets Earth, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune and the dwarf planet Pluto.

Plus check out our video on some of the other awesome things going on in our Solar System

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