Pluto and its moonsNapoleon Dynamite

Pluto’s size

2,302 kilometers in diameter About 2/3 the size of the moon The diameter of Pluto is roughly ½

the width of the United States

Color and features

There are no pictures of Pluto showing its color

Pluto is perceived to be grey like the moon

Pluto has lots of methane icecaps and astronomers say that the dwarf planet is rocky

Day and revolution

One revolution around sun for Pluto takes 90,520 days or 248 earth years

Pluto rotates all the way around its axis in around 153 hours or 6.39 earth days

Pluto is tilted on its axis at 122.5 degrees

Density

Pluto has a density of 2.05 grams/cm3

Earth has a density 5.52 grams/cm3 Pluto is 2.7 times less dense than

Earth

Gravity

Pluto’s gravity is far less than Earth’s If you weigh 100 pounds on Earth,

you would weigh about 6.5 pounds on Pluto

The gravitational acceleration on the surface of Pluto is about 2.2 feet/second squared

Atmospheric composition

Pluto’s atmosphere, when present is composed of carbon monoxide, methane, and nitrogen

When Pluto is closest to the sun, some of the elements turn to gas and form an atmosphere

When Pluto is far from the sun, the gas in the atmosphere solidifies and the atmosphere disappears

Surface compsition

Pluto’s surface is mainly frozen methane, and carbon monoxide, as well as ice

The core of Pluto is rocky so scientists think there could be rocky surface on Pluto as wellArtist’s

interpretation

Interior composition

Pluto has a rocky core surrounded by a mantle of ice, nitrogen, and methane

Pluto is about 50-70% rock

Ice, methane, and nitrogen make up the rest

Magnetic field

It’s not known if Pluto has a magnetic field for sure

Pluto’s small size and slow rotation are signals that Pluto has little or no magnetic field

Moons

Pluto has 5 moons The two newest moons Kerberos and Styx were discovered in 2011 and 2012 Pluto’s main moon Charon is more

than half the size of Pluto itself and some people consider it to be a second dwarf planet

Unique things about Pluto

In January of 2006, NASA launched a spacecraft to Pluto, it will arrive in 2015

Pluto was named by an 11 year old girl

This girl gave her idea to her grandpa, who then submitted the name to the Lowell observatory

Pluto and its moons are all named after things in the Grecian underworld

Chart of factsPluto fact chart

Size 2,302 km in diameter, 2/3 diameter of the moon, ½ width of U.S.

General color/features

No actual color pictures, perceived to be grey and rocky with methane icecaps and lots of ice

Days and years

One rotation is 6.39 earth days, one revolution is 248 earth years

Density 2.05 grams/cubic centimeter

Gravity 2.2 feet/second squared

Atmosphere composition

Only has and atmosphere when close to sun, made of gaseous nitrogen, carbon monoxide, and methane

Surface composition

Frozen methane, nitrogen, carbon monoxide, and ice. Rocky

Interior composition

Rock core with ice mantles, traces of nitrogen and methane

Magnetic field Very weak, if any at all

Moons 5 moons, Charon, Nix, Hydra, Styx, and Kerberos

Unique things Space mission will reach Pluto in 2015