58 Interesting Facts About Pluto

Last updated on January 12th, 2024

Its atmosphere

46. Due to its relatively low mass and gravity, Pluto has a low escape velocity. This means that it’s easier for gasses to escape from Pluto’s atmosphere into space. Pluto’s thin atmosphere is susceptible to solar wind stripping. Estimates suggest that Pluto loses about 500 tons of its atmosphere per hour due to the solar wind, contributing to the gradual depletion of its thin atmosphere.

47. Due to its thin atmosphere and the low angle of the Sun, sunsets on Pluto would appear more blue than on Earth.

48. Pluto’s atmosphere is not constant; it can expand and contract significantly based on its elliptical orbit and the varying distance from the Sun.

49. While not a traditional comet, Pluto’s thin atmosphere can extend into a tail-like structure due to the interaction with solar wind, creating a comet-like appearance.

50. Pluto’s thin atmosphere contains complex hydrocarbons, leading to the presence of a blue haze. The haze is formed through chemical reactions between sunlight and methane. Pluto’s atmosphere extends only about 1,600 kilometers (1,000 miles) above the surface.

51. Tholins, complex organic molecules, are created in Pluto’s atmosphere through the interaction of ultraviolet light with methane and nitrogen. These are created by simple molecules (CH4 and N2) changing into larger, more complex molecules (80 to 350 daltons) to negatively charged massive molecules (approximately 8000 daltons).

52. Pluto’s atmosphere unexpectedly began cooling around 1989, a phenomenon still not fully understood. It challenges scientists’ predictions about the behavior of distant atmospheres.

Pressure

53. The pressure on the Earth’s surface is 100,000 times greater than that on Pluto’s.

Temperatures

54. Pluto experiences extreme temperature variations. Surface temperatures can drop below -375 degrees Fahrenheit (-225 degrees Celsius) at its farthest point from the Sun.

Pluto in chemistry

55. Pluto has a magnetic field, but it is highly tilted and offset from the center of the dwarf planet. This magnetic field is believed to be generated by the interaction of Pluto’s atmosphere with solar wind.

X-rays

56. Pluto has been observed emitting X-rays. The source of these X-rays is still under investigation but could be related to its atmosphere or interactions with solar wind.

57. While Pluto doesn’t have a full-fledged ring system like Saturn, computer simulations suggest that it could have a tenuous ring system composed of small particles.

Bright, dark, bright, dark. . .

58. Pluto’s surface exhibits variations in albedo or reflectivity. This can be due to different compositions of ices and tholins, creating a patchwork of bright and dark regions. Pluto’s brightness can change by a factor of three over a few hours, indicating that its surface features may have different reflectivities or that it experiences rapid weather changes.

Quick facts about Pluto