Pluto Reclaims Title as Ninth Planet

Pluto Reclaims Title as Ninth Planet
News story originally written on February 11, 1999

Image of Pluto taken with the Faint Object Camera aboard the Hubble Space Telescope. The upper picture is the actual image taken by the HST while the lower picture is a computer enhancement of that image.
Click on image for full size (30K JPEG)
Image courtesy of NASA/JPL

On February 11th, Pluto will become the ninth planet again. Before then, Neptune was the farthest planet from the Sun. Scientists estimate that the two planets will cross orbits just after 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

Pluto has an unusual orbit. Its orbit takes it closer to the Sun than Neptune for 20 years. Pluto has been the eighth planet since February 7th, 1979. Now it will be the ninth planet for 228 more years.

Facts about Pluto

Pluto Reclaims Title as Ninth Planet
News story originally written on February 11, 1999

Image of Pluto taken with the Faint Object Camera aboard the Hubble Space Telescope. The upper picture is the actual image taken by the HST while the lower picture is a computer enhancement of that image.
Click on image for full size (30K JPEG)
Image courtesy of NASA/JPL

On February 11th, Pluto will pass beyond Neptune and become the farthest planet in the solar system. Scientists estimate that the two planets will cross orbits at approximately 5:08 p.m. EST.

Pluto has an unusual orbit which takes it closer to the Sun than Neptune for 20 years out of its 248-year orbit. Pluto has been the eighth planet since February 7th, 1979.

Facts about Pluto

Pluto Reclaims Title as Ninth Planet
News story originally written on February 11, 1999

Image of Pluto taken with the Faint Object Camera aboard the Hubble Space Telescope. The upper picture is the actual image taken by the HST while the lower picture is a computer enhancement of that image.
Click on image for full size (30K JPEG)
Image courtesy of NASA/JPL

On February 11th, Pluto will pass beyond Neptune to become the most distant planet in the solar system. Scientists estimate that the two planets will cross orbits at approximately 5:08 p.m. EST.

Pluto's unusual orbit takes it closer to the Sun than Neptune for 20 years out of its 248-year orbit. Pluto became the eighth planet on February 7th, 1979.

Facts about Pluto

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Pluto Reclaims Title as Ninth Planet News story originally written on February 11, 1999

Image of Pluto taken with the Faint Object Camera aboard the Hubble Space Telescope. The upper picture is the actual image taken by the HST while the lower picture is a computer enhancement of that image. Click on image for full size (30K JPEG) Image courtesy of NASA/JPL

Pluto Reclaims Title as Ninth Planet News story originally written on February 11, 1999

Image of Pluto taken with the Faint Object Camera aboard the Hubble Space Telescope. The upper picture is the actual image taken by the HST while the lower picture is a computer enhancement of that image. Click on image for full size (30K JPEG) Image courtesy of NASA/JPL

Pluto Reclaims Title as Ninth Planet News story originally written on February 11, 1999

Image of Pluto taken with the Faint Object Camera aboard the Hubble Space Telescope. The upper picture is the actual image taken by the HST while the lower picture is a computer enhancement of that image. Click on image for full size (30K JPEG) Image courtesy of NASA/JPL

Pluto Reclaims Title as Ninth Planet
News story originally written on February 11, 1999

Image of Pluto taken with the Faint Object Camera aboard the Hubble Space Telescope. The upper picture is the actual image taken by the HST while the lower picture is a computer enhancement of that image.
Click on image for full size (30K JPEG)
Image courtesy of NASA/JPL

Pluto Reclaims Title as Ninth Planet
News story originally written on February 11, 1999

Image of Pluto taken with the Faint Object Camera aboard the Hubble Space Telescope. The upper picture is the actual image taken by the HST while the lower picture is a computer enhancement of that image.
Click on image for full size (30K JPEG)
Image courtesy of NASA/JPL

Pluto Reclaims Title as Ninth Planet
News story originally written on February 11, 1999

Image of Pluto taken with the Faint Object Camera aboard the Hubble Space Telescope. The upper picture is the actual image taken by the HST while the lower picture is a computer enhancement of that image.
Click on image for full size (30K JPEG)
Image courtesy of NASA/JPL