Pluto

Latest about Pluto

A close up of Pluto (a red and white planet in the front) and its moon Charon (a darker reddish sphere) in the back in the darkness of space

Pluto's dwarf planet partner Charon may have spilled its guts to create 2 of the pair's moons

By Nola Taylor Tillman published

"The surfaces of Nix and Hydra are as close to unaltered as you can get."

Pluto
A planet with red patches and cream patches against a dark background.

Pluto quiz: Can you figure out this dwarf planet?

By Kenna Hughes-Castleberry published

Think you know Pluto? From icy plains to planetary debates, this quiz dives deep into the mysteries of our solar system's most controversial—and captivating—dwarf planet.

Pluto
A planet with red patches and cream patches against a dark background.

New Pluto mission could uncover dwarf planet's hidden ocean — if the 'queen of the underworld' gets to fly

By Nola Taylor Tillman published

A conceptual mission known as "Persephone" could explore Pluto and its moons for 50 years  — if it ever gets funded and approved.

Pluto
This high-resolution image captured by NASA's New Horizons spacecraft combines blue, red and infrared images to show a bright expanse on Pluto known as Sputnik Planum, which has been found to be rich in nitrogen, carbon monoxide and methane ices.

An icy supervolcano on Pluto may have erupted millions of years ago, leaving a massive crater on the frozen world.

By Nola Taylor Tillman published

The caldera may have blasted out its cryomagma in a single explosive event, or it may have spread its eruptions over time.

Pluto

Is Pluto a planet or not? Who cares! Our love for the King of the Kuiper Belt is stronger than ever 95 years later

By John Loeffler published

On the 95th anniversary of its discovery, Pluto remains one of the most beloved and enigmatic worlds in our solar system, whether you call it a planet or not.

Pluto

Clyde Tombaugh: The astronomer who discovered Pluto

By Nola Taylor Tillman last updated

Reference From farm boy to cosmic pioneer: The life and legacy of Clyde Tombaugh.

Reference
An illustration shows Pluto and its largest moon Charon

How Pluto captured its largest moon Charon with a 10-hour icy 'kiss'

By Robert Lea published

Pluto may have got romantic to capture its largest moon, colliding and engaging in a passionate but icy 10 hour kiss with Charon billions of years ago.

Pluto
Pluto and its heart-shaped Sputnik Planitia as imaged by New Horizons spacecraft in 2015.

We could float effortlessly in Pluto's subsurface ocean

By Rahul Rao published

A subsurface ocean of liquid water may exist beneath Pluto's nitrogen ice, according to an analysis of data collected by NASA's New Horizons probe.

Pluto
An image of a planet with a heart-shaped scar toward the bottom right.

Pluto's heart-shaped scar may offer clues to the frozen world's history

By Rahul Rao published

How Pluto's Sputnik Planitia formed remains unknown, but researchers have imagined a body about the size of Switzerland crashing into Pluto at a shallow angle.

Pluto
A view of Pluto with its Big Planet Energy campaign for Pluto TV.

Pluto TV will rally to make Pluto a planet again on April 1 (it's no joke)

By Tariq Malik published

Pluto may have lost its status as a full-fledged planet in 2006, but that doesn't mean it's a joke of a world this April Fools' Day and the folks behind Pluto TV want to make that clear.

Pluto
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