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Pluto: Discovered by Clyde Tombaugh 1930 Pluto orbits the Sun on an elliptical path, tilted 17 degrees from the eclipti

Pluto: Discovered by Clyde Tombaugh 1930 Pluto orbits the Sun on an elliptical path, tilted 17 degrees from the ecliptic plane, between 30 and 50 AU Pluto’s orbital period = 248 years. Perihelion was Sept. 1989. Looking down on the solar system - the orbits of the outer planets.

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Pluto: Discovered by Clyde Tombaugh 1930 Pluto orbits the Sun on an elliptical path, tilted 17 degrees from the eclipti

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  1. Pluto: Discovered by Clyde Tombaugh 1930 • Pluto orbits the Sun on an elliptical path, tilted 17 degrees from the ecliptic plane, between 30 and 50 AU • Pluto’s orbital period = 248 years. Perihelion was Sept. 1989

  2. Looking down on the solar system - the orbits of the outer planets Keeping Neptune fixed and watching the paths of the other planets for millions of years Neptune fixed Pluto now Because Pluto is sometimes closer to the Sun than Neptune, some people thought it might be an escaped moon of Neptune. But orbital calculations show that Pluto and Neptune’s orbits are in a 3:2 resonance - they dance together - but never get close.

  3. 1975 Detection of surface ices: CH4, N2, CO • Implied possible sublimation atmosphere • With strong seasonal changes over 248 year orbit

  4. Temperature: 40 Kelvin = -233 C = -340 F Reddish color and strong albedo variations

  5. Hubble’s Best Picture • 1988 Stellar occultation by Pluto • Gradual decrease in starlight -> atmosphere • Po~3 nanobar, T~50K Smoothed and modeled image

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