Pluto
Planet Profile
Mass (kg)............................................1.29 x 10^22
Diameter (km)........................................2300
Mean density (kg/m^3) ...............................2030
Escape velocity (m/sec)..............................1100
Average distance from Sun (AU).......................39.53
Rotation period (length of day) (in Earth days)......6.39
Revolution period (length of year) (in Earth years)..247.7
Obliquity (tilt of axis) (degrees)...................122.5
Orbit inclination (degrees)..........................17.15
Orbit eccentricity...................................0.248
Mean temperature (K).................................37
Visual geometric albedo..............................about 0.5
Atmospheric components...............................perhaps
methane and
nitrogen
Surface materials....................................perhaps
methane ice
Telescopic View
This view of Pluto was taken by the Hubble Space Telescope. It shows a
rare image of tiny Pluto with its moon Charon, which is slightly
smaller than the planet. Because Pluto has not yet been visited by any
spacecraft, it remains a mysterious planet. Due to its great distance
from the sun, Pluto's surface is believed to reach temperatures as low
as -240øC (-400øF). From Pluto's surface, the sun appears as
only a very bright star. No images of Pluto's or Charon's surface have
yet been acquired.
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