Pluto, once considered the ninth planet, is now classified as a dwarf planet. One common question about this celestial body is its size, especially in relation to objects we’re more familiar with, like the Moon. This article delves into Pluto’s dimensions and compares them to our Moon.
Pluto has a diameter of approximately 1,477 miles (2,377 kilometers), which is roughly two-thirds the diameter of Earth’s Moon (2,159 miles or 3,474 kilometers). This means the Moon is significantly larger than Pluto. In terms of surface area, the Moon boasts about 14.6 million square miles while Pluto has a surface area of roughly 6.4 million square miles. This difference highlights that the Moon possesses more than double the surface area of Pluto. To put Pluto’s size into perspective, it’s only about half the width of the United States.
While smaller than the Moon, Pluto is still a fascinating and complex world. NASA’s New Horizons mission, which flew past Pluto in 2015, revealed a diverse landscape with mountains, valleys, plains, craters, and possible ice volcanoes. Despite its small size, Pluto has five known moons: Charon, Nix, Hydra, Kerberos, and Styx. Charon, the largest, is so substantial compared to Pluto that they are sometimes referred to as a “double dwarf planet” system.
Pluto’s Size in the Solar System Context
Compared to Earth, Pluto is significantly smaller, about one-fifth its width. This vast difference in size is one of the reasons Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet. One of the criteria for being a planet is having “cleared the neighborhood” around its orbit, meaning it’s gravitationally dominant enough to either attract or repel smaller objects. Pluto shares its orbital space with numerous other Kuiper Belt objects, hence its reclassification.
The Significance of Pluto’s Size
Although smaller than initially thought, Pluto’s size and other characteristics, like its composition and its moon system, provide valuable insights into the formation and evolution of the outer solar system. The study of Pluto and other Kuiper Belt objects helps scientists understand the early solar system and the processes that led to the formation of planets and dwarf planets.
Conclusion
The Moon is considerably larger than Pluto, having more than double its surface area and a diameter about one-third larger. This size difference, along with Pluto’s location in the Kuiper Belt and its shared orbital space, contributed to its reclassification as a dwarf planet. However, Pluto remains a scientifically valuable object for understanding the outer regions of our solar system. Its complex geology and unique moon system continue to intrigue researchers and fuel further exploration.
