Position - eighth or ninth from the sun

Distance from sun - (nearest) 4440 million km (furthest) 7390 million km (average) 5915 million km

Minimum distance from Earth - 4300 million km

Diameter - 2250 km

Satellites - Charon, which at 1200 km in diameter is so big it is a quarter the weight of Pluto

Atmosphere - nitrogen and methane

Surface Temperature down to - 230 ^oC

Length of Day (time taken to rotate once) - about 6 Earth days

Length of Year (time taken to go round the Sun) - 248 Earth years

Comments - Pluto and Charon are really a double planet because they are so similar in size. They are also small, smaller than the Moon, and rocky, unlike the other outer planets which gas giants. Pluto has a very strange orbit around the Sun and because it is so strange some astronomers think that Pluto and Charon are escaped moons from Neptune. Pluto was discovered in 1930 after astronomers calculated it's existence, but because Pluto is so small some people think another "Planet X" awaits discovery.

Major Features - None known.

Seeing Pluto from Earth - A very powerful telescope is needed.

Getting There - No probe has been sent to Pluto.