Pluto is a dwarf planet located in the Kuiper Belt, a region of the solar system beyond the orbit of Neptune. It was discovered in 1930 by Clyde Tombaugh and was originally classified as the ninth planet in our solar system. However, in 2006, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) redefined the definition of a planet, and Pluto did not meet all of the criteria. As a result, Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet.

Pluto has a diameter of about 1,473 miles (2,370 kilometers), making it smaller than the United States. It has a highly eccentric orbit, which means that its distance from the sun varies greatly over the course of its 248-year-long orbit. At its closest approach to the sun, Pluto is about 2.7 billion miles (4.3 billion kilometers) away, while at its farthest point, it is about 4.6 billion miles (7.4 billion kilometers) away.

Pluto has five known moons: Charon, Styx, Nix, Kerberos, and Hydra. Charon is the largest of these moons, with a diameter of about 750 miles (1,200 kilometers). It is so large that Pluto and Charon are often referred to as a binary system, with Pluto and Charon orbiting a common center of mass.

Pluto’s surface is composed of a mixture of water ice, methane ice, and nitrogen ice. It has a very thin atmosphere, which is composed mainly of nitrogen, with some methane and carbon monoxide. The atmosphere collapses when Pluto is far from the sun and reforms when it is closer.

Pluto’s temperature varies greatly depending on its distance from the sun. When it is at its closest approach to the sun, the temperature on Pluto can reach as high as -387 degrees Fahrenheit (-233 degrees Celsius). When it is at its farthest point from the sun, the temperature can drop as low as -396 degrees Fahrenheit (-238 degrees Celsius).

Despite being a dwarf planet, Pluto is still a fascinating and mysterious object in our solar system. Scientists are still learning new things about Pluto, and there is much more to be discovered about this icy world and its moons.