How Big Is Pluto Compared To A Human? COMPARE.EDU.VN delves into the captivating comparison of Pluto’s size relative to a human, exploring its characteristics, formation, and significance in our solar system. Discover insightful facts about Pluto, its orbital path, and its classification as a dwarf planet. This detailed analysis offers a comprehensive understanding, enhancing your grasp of space exploration and planetary science and comparing cosmic scales.
1. Unveiling Pluto: A Distant Dwarf Planet
Pluto, a captivating world residing in the distant Kuiper Belt, presents a complex landscape of mountains, valleys, plains, craters, and glaciers. Discovered in 1930, it was once considered the ninth planet of our solar system. However, with the discovery of similar celestial bodies deeper within the Kuiper Belt, the International Astronomical Union reclassified Pluto as a dwarf planet in 2006.
According to the IAU resolution of 2006, a dwarf planet is defined as an object orbiting the Sun, possessing sufficient mass to attain a nearly round shape but lacking the capacity to clear its orbital path of debris. Pluto fits this description due to its location in the Trans-Neptunian region beyond Neptune, where other objects share its orbital trajectory.
1.1 Size and Composition of Pluto
Pluto’s diameter measures approximately 1,400 miles (2,380 kilometers), roughly half the width of the United States. Its distance from the Sun averages around 3.6 billion miles (5.8 billion kilometers), and it possesses a thin atmosphere primarily composed of nitrogen, methane, and carbon monoxide. With an average temperature of -387°F (-232°C), Pluto is too frigid to support life as we know it.
1.2 Pluto’s Moons and Unique System
Pluto boasts five known moons, the largest of which is Charon. Intriguingly, Charon is about half the size of Pluto, making it the largest satellite relative to its host planet in our solar system. Due to this unique relationship, Pluto and Charon are often referred to as a “double planet.”
1.3 NASA’s New Horizons Mission
The only spacecraft to have explored Pluto up close is NASA’s New Horizons, which conducted a flyby of the dwarf planet and its moons in 2015. This mission provided invaluable data and stunning images, revolutionizing our understanding of Pluto and its place in the solar system.
2. The Naming of Pluto: A Young Girl’s Inspiration
In 1930, 11-year-old Venetia Burney from Oxford, England, proposed that the newly discovered celestial object be named after the Roman god of the underworld. Her grandfather relayed the suggestion to the Lowell Observatory, where it was ultimately selected.
2.1 Venetia Burney’s Contribution
In a NASA interview conducted in January 2006, Venetia recounted how she came up with the name Pluto during breakfast with her mother and grandfather upon learning of the discovery of the ninth planet. Her contribution caught the attention of the world, securing her a place in the history of planetary astronomy.
2.2 Mythological Significance
To clarify the origins of the name, Dr. Elizabeth Vandiver, Chair of the Department of Classics at Whitman College, explained that Pluto is the Roman equivalent of the Greek god Hades, the ruler of the underworld.
3. Potential for Life on Pluto: A Frigid Realm
Given its extremely cold surface temperatures, the likelihood of life existing on Pluto is remote. At such low temperatures, water, essential for life as we understand it, exists in a rock-like state. However, Pluto’s interior is warmer, and some scientists hypothesize the existence of a subsurface ocean.
4. Comparing Pluto’s Size and Distance to Earth
Pluto’s equatorial diameter measures approximately 1,477 miles (2,377 kilometers), about one-fifth the width of Earth. Its average distance from the Sun is approximately 3.7 billion miles (5.9 billion kilometers), roughly 39 times farther than Earth’s distance from the Sun.
4.1 Sunlight on Pluto
At this vast distance, sunlight takes approximately 5.5 hours to reach Pluto from the Sun. Standing on Pluto’s surface at noon, the Sun would appear 1/900th as bright as it does on Earth, approximately 300 times brighter than our full moon.
4.2 Pluto Time on Earth
There is a specific moment each day near sunset on Earth when the light intensity matches that of midday on Pluto, a phenomenon known as “Pluto Time.”
5. Orbit and Rotation: Pluto’s Unique Path
Pluto’s orbit around the Sun differs significantly from that of the planets, characterized by its elliptical shape and tilt. Its 248-year-long orbit takes it as far as 49.3 astronomical units (AU) from the Sun and as close as 30 AU. On average, Pluto is situated 3.7 billion miles (5.9 billion kilometers) away from the Sun, equivalent to 39 AU.
5.1 Pluto’s Perihelion
From 1979 to 1999, Pluto neared its perihelion, the point in its orbit closest to the Sun. During this period, Pluto was actually closer to the Sun than Neptune.
5.2 Pluto’s Day and Rotation
A day on Pluto lasts approximately 153 hours. Its axis of rotation is tilted at 57 degrees relative to its orbital plane around the Sun, causing it to spin almost on its side. Additionally, Pluto exhibits retrograde rotation, spinning from east to west like Venus and Uranus.
6. Pluto’s Moons: A Complex System
Pluto possesses five known moons: Charon, Nix, Hydra, Kerberos, and Styx. This moon system is believed to have originated from a collision between Pluto and another similarly sized object early in the solar system’s history.
6.1 Charon: Pluto’s Largest Moon
Charon, the largest of Pluto’s moons, is approximately half the size of Pluto itself, making it the largest satellite relative to its host planet in our solar system. It orbits Pluto at a distance of approximately 12,200 miles (19,640 kilometers). In comparison, our Moon is 20 times farther away from Earth.
6.2 Tidal Locking and Other Moons
Charon’s orbit around Pluto takes 153 hours, mirroring Pluto’s rotation period. Consequently, Charon neither rises nor sets but remains fixed over the same spot on Pluto’s surface. This phenomenon is known as tidal locking, where the same side of Charon always faces Pluto. Pluto’s other four moons are considerably smaller, measuring less than 100 miles (160 kilometers) in diameter. They exhibit irregular shapes rather than the spherical form of Charon and are not tidally locked to Pluto.
6.3 Mythological Names
Pluto’s moons are named after mythological figures associated with the underworld. Charon is named after the ferryman of the river Styx, while Nix is named after the goddess of darkness and night. Hydra is named after the nine-headed serpent guarding the underworld, Kerberos after the three-headed dog of Greek mythology, and Styx after the mythological river separating the world of the living from the realm of the dead.
7. Absence of Rings Around Pluto
Currently, there are no known rings surrounding Pluto.
8. Formation of Pluto: A Kuiper Belt Object
Pluto is a member of the Kuiper Belt, a disc-shaped region beyond Neptune’s orbit populated by thousands of icy worlds. These miniature icy bodies, also known as Kuiper Belt objects, transneptunian objects, or plutoids, formed early in the history of our solar system approximately 4.5 billion years ago.
9. Internal Structure of Pluto: Rock and Ice
Pluto is approximately two-thirds the diameter of Earth’s Moon and likely comprises a rocky core surrounded by a mantle of water ice. The surface is coated with interesting ices such as methane and nitrogen frost. Due to its lower density, Pluto’s mass is about one-sixth that of Earth’s Moon.
10. Pluto’s Surface Features: A Diverse Landscape
Pluto’s surface exhibits a variety of features, including mountains, valleys, plains, and craters. The temperature on Pluto can plummet to -375 to -400 degrees Fahrenheit (-226 to -240 degrees Celsius).
10.1 Mountains and Valleys
Pluto’s tallest mountains range from 6,500 to 9,800 feet (2 to 3 kilometers) in height and consist of large blocks of water ice, sometimes coated with frozen gases like methane. Long troughs and valleys, extending up to 370 miles (600 kilometers), add to the dwarf planet’s intriguing features.
10.2 Craters and Plains
Craters, some as large as 162 miles (260 kilometers) in diameter, are scattered across Pluto’s landscape, with some exhibiting signs of erosion and infilling. This suggests that tectonic forces are slowly resurfacing Pluto. The most prominent plains observed on Pluto appear to be composed of frozen nitrogen gas and lack craters, displaying structures indicative of convection.
11. Pluto’s Atmosphere: Thin and Tenuous
Pluto possesses a thin, tenuous atmosphere that expands when it approaches the Sun and collapses as it moves farther away, similar to a comet. The primary constituent is molecular nitrogen, with traces of methane and carbon monoxide also detected.
11.1 Sublimation and Seasonal Changes
When Pluto nears the Sun, its surface ices undergo sublimation, transforming directly from solid to gas and forming a temporary atmosphere. Pluto’s low gravity, approximately 6% of Earth’s, causes its atmosphere to extend much farther in altitude than our planet’s atmosphere. As Pluto recedes from the Sun, the bulk of its atmosphere may freeze and fall as snow onto the surface.
12. Magnetosphere: Unconfirmed Presence
The existence of a magnetic field on Pluto remains uncertain, but its small size and slow rotation suggest that it may have little to none.
13. How Big is Pluto Compared to a Human? The Size Difference
To truly grasp the scale of Pluto, it’s helpful to compare its size to something familiar: a human. The average human height is around 5 to 6 feet (1.5 to 1.8 meters). Pluto, with a diameter of about 1,477 miles (2,377 kilometers), dwarfs a human in comparison. If you were to line up humans side by side to match Pluto’s diameter, you would need approximately 1.3 million people. This immense difference illustrates just how vast even a dwarf planet like Pluto is compared to ourselves.
13.1 Visualizing the Comparison
Imagine standing on Pluto’s surface; the horizon would be much farther away than you’re used to on Earth due to its smaller size and lower curvature. Even though Pluto is significantly smaller than Earth, it’s still an immense world with diverse features. The comparison highlights the challenge of comprehending the scale of objects in our solar system and beyond.
13.2 Understanding Pluto’s Scale
Understanding the scale of Pluto relative to a human helps us appreciate the vastness of space and the diverse sizes of celestial bodies. While Pluto may be small compared to the major planets, it’s still a substantial world with a rich history and unique characteristics.
14. Key Differences Between Pluto and a Human
Here’s a table highlighting the key differences between Pluto and a human:
| Feature | Pluto | Human |
|---|---|---|
| Diameter | 1,477 miles (2,377 km) | Approximately 5-6 feet (1.5-1.8 m) |
| Composition | Rock and ice | Organic matter, water |
| Atmosphere | Thin, nitrogen-based | Oxygen-nitrogen mixture |
| Temperature | -375 to -400°F (-226 to -240°C) | Average 98.6°F (37°C) |
| Surface | Mountains, valleys, plains, craters | Varies (Earth-based) |
| Life Support | No known life support | Essential for human survival |
| Gravitational Pull | About 6% of Earth’s gravity | Approximately 1G |
15. The Ongoing Exploration of Space
Despite its reclassification, Pluto remains a fascinating object of study, offering valuable insights into the formation and evolution of our solar system. Missions like New Horizons have expanded our knowledge of Pluto and other Kuiper Belt objects, highlighting the importance of continued exploration and research.
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18. FAQ Section: Common Questions About Pluto
1. How does Pluto’s size compare to Earth?
Pluto is much smaller than Earth, with a diameter about one-fifth of Earth’s.
2. Why is Pluto called a dwarf planet?
Pluto is classified as a dwarf planet because it hasn’t cleared its orbit of other objects.
3. What is Pluto mostly made of?
Pluto is primarily composed of rock and ice.
4. How cold is Pluto?
Pluto’s temperature ranges from -375 to -400°F (-226 to -240°C).
5. Does Pluto have any moons?
Yes, Pluto has five known moons: Charon, Nix, Hydra, Kerberos, and Styx.
6. How far away is Pluto from the Sun?
Pluto’s average distance from the Sun is about 3.7 billion miles (5.9 billion kilometers).
7. Can humans visit Pluto?
While there are no current plans for a manned mission to Pluto, robotic missions have explored the dwarf planet.
8. What was the New Horizons mission?
New Horizons was a NASA mission that flew by Pluto in 2015, providing detailed images and data.
9. Does Pluto have an atmosphere?
Yes, Pluto has a thin atmosphere composed mainly of nitrogen, methane, and carbon monoxide.
10. How long does it take Pluto to orbit the Sun?
Pluto takes about 248 Earth years to complete one orbit around the Sun.
