February 19, 2009

Mr. Daniele’s 4 period class.

Pluto and Pluto and Neptune Neptune switch orbits. switch orbits. Once every Once every 1000 years. 1000 years.

•Sun:5.9 million km •Earth:4,644 million miles

The diameter of Pluto is 2,274 KM!

Pluto is more complex then any other planet other than Earth!!! Pluto has 3 moons one of the largest moon is Charon but the other two have not been named yet.

In 1999 Scientist suggested that the surface of Pluto is made of two different parts. It has an icy part and a non-icy part (the non-icy part may be some sort of rock).

Pluto has been officially demoted from its status as a planet. The International Astronomical Union (IAU), at a meeting in August 2006, voted on their first "official" definition of a planet. Based on this new definition, Pluto is no longer a planet. According to the IAU's definition, our Solar System has eight planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. In the new scheme, Pluto will be one of several "dwarf planets" in the Solar System; but "dwarf planets" are not considered true planets.

After the discovery of Neptune in 1846, mathematics suggested that there still might be a ninth planet. Scientists set out to discover it, and it was finally identified in 1930 by Clyde Tombaugh after a careful search of the sky.

• Sedna and Quaroar are Pluto’s friends who are just like him! ( They are the other two dwarf planets in the Solar System!!)!!

When It was a planet!!When It was a planet!!

The controversy over Pluto's status as a planet has been brewing for years. Astronomers have long hypothesized the existence of a large class of icy objects, called Kuiper Belt Objects (KBOs), on the fringes of our Solar System. The first KBO was discovered in the early 1990s. Scientists recognized that Pluto, which was discovered in 1930, was really "just" one of many KBOs. In terms of its composition and its orbit, Pluto is unlike the other eight planets; but is quite similar to other objects in the Kuiper Belt. Until 2003 Pluto was still the largest of the KBOs yet discovered. However, the discovery of 2003 UB313 in that year further called into question Pluto's status as a full-fledged planet.

1. Pluto was Discovered in 1930 by Clyde Tombaugh.

2. There are two part’s of Pluto, a icy part and a non-icy part.

3. Pluto was discovered during the discovery of Neptune.

4. The only reason that Pluto is a dwarf planet is because it is the same size has all the other dwarf planets ( Sedna and Quaroar).

5. Pluto is mostly made of nitrogen.

6. The reason why scientist think Pluto is made of ice is because Pluto reflects light really well.

7. Pluto’s largest moon Charon is just over half the size of Pluto which is 728 miles!

8. When it was discovered it was one of many KBO’s.( Kuiper Belt Project).

9. Pluto means god of the dead and ruler of the underworld.10.In ancient times Pluto was used to determine some ones birth date! 11.Pluto is smaller than the seven moon’s of the solar system!12. Pluto is Hades in Greek.13.Pluto’s moon Charon was discovered in 1978 just before it’s orbital plane moved edge-on toward the inner solar system.

Producer: Michael Editor: Rose Costume Design/Director: Carolyn