Tour of the Solar System

Pluto

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Greek Mythology: Pluto is the god of the dead and the ruler of the underworld.

Pluto is the ninth and usually farthest planet from the Sun (Neptune is currently at a greater distance from the Sun...due to the eccentricity of Pluto's orbit drawing Pluto closer to the Sun at certain times during its orbit). Pluto revolves around the sun in about 248.4 years.

Pluto is about 4.5 billion kilometers (2.8 billion miles) distant at "perihelion" (closest to the Sun), and about 7.4 billion kilometers (4.6 billion miles) distant at "aphelion" (farthest from the Sun).

Pluto has a diameter less than half that of the Earth. Although the name Pluto is highly recognized worldwide, Pluto's moon Chiron is often overlooked.

The word Pluto is derived from the Latin; Plúto, Plúton and from the Greek; Plouton, from ploutos (which means wealth).

Charon

Pluto's moon

Greek Mythology: Charon, The wise centaur who tutored Achilles, Hercules, and Asclepius.

Charon's large comparative size to Pluto (about 1/3rd the size of Pluto) and Charon's almost random orbit around Pluto, greatly influence Pluto's own orbit around the Sun.

Pluto & Charon

 More to come...