Pluto

Latest about Pluto

NASA's New Horizons spacecraft discovered layers of haze on the dwarf planet Pluto during its 2015 flyby.

Pluto and Titan are surprisingly hazy, but scientists are fuzzy on exactly why

By Meghan Bartels published

NASA's New Horizons mission turned Pluto from a fuzzy blob into a detailed, geophysically complex world. But it's still a little fuzzy, as it turns out.

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NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine spoke last month at the International Astronautical Congress, where he said that Pluto ought to be considered a planet.

NASA Chief Keeps Saying 'Pluto Is a Planet' Because It's a Complex, Amazing World

By Elizabeth Howell published

The long-standing debate over Pluto's planethood recently got a public boost from NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, who said the world should definitely be a planet.

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Pluto, as seen by NASA's New Horizons spacecraft during its historic flyby of the dwarf planet in July 2015.

NASA Eyes a Possible Return to Pluto, with a Longer Stay

By Mike Wall published

NASA is thinking about going back to Pluto, this time to stay for a while.

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New Horizons' photo of Pluto showing the heart-shaped area now informally named Tombaugh Region.

Pluto Still Deserves to Be a Planet, NASA Chief Says

By Passant Rabie published

Pluto lost its "official" planet status over a decade ago, but fans of the solar system's underdog are still rooting for it. And NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine is one of them.

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NASA's New Horizons spacecraft captured this view of Pluto's nitrogen-ice plain Sputnik Planitia during the probe's flyby of the dwarf planet in July 2015.

On Icy Pluto, Volcanoes May Spout Liquid Water

By Charles Q. Choi published

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This view of Pluto's Sputnik Planitia nitrogen-ice plain was captured by NASA's New Horizons spacecraft during its flyby of the dwarf planet in July 2015.

Pluto Has a Buried Ocean — And So Might Many Other Worlds

By Mike Wall published

Buried oceans like the one sloshing beneath the icy surface of the Jupiter moon Europa may be far more common across the cosmos than scientists had imagined.

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NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft spotted ice mountains 2 miles (3 kilometers) high on Pluto during its July 2015 flyby of the dwarf planet.

Should Pluto Be a Planet Again? Informal Vote Offers Support After Experts Debate

By Elizabeth Howell published

A friendly debate about Pluto's planethood yesterday (April 29) ended in an informal vote that came down in favor of reinstating the dwarf planet's status.

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NASA's New Horizons spacecraft obtained this view of Pluto at a distance of about 280,000 miles (450,000 kilometers) on July 14, 2015.

Pluto Planethood Debate Tonight! Here's How to Watch Online

By Elizabeth Howell published

Ever since Pluto was demoted to dwarf planet in 2006, the debate over its planethood has raged on. Tonight, April 26, you can watch that debate online.

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Craters on the Pluto moon Charon's Vulcan Planitia, as seen by NASA's New Horizons spacecraft in July 2015.

In Pluto's Realm, Small Objects Are Rare

By Mike Wall published

Researchers have noted a distinct dearth of small craters on Pluto and its largest moon, Charon.

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Charon and Pluto art

Pluto's Biggest Moon Could Give an Orbiter an (Almost) Free Ride

By Nola Taylor Tillman published

A spacecraft orbiting the dwarf planet could use Pluto's moon Charon to make important orbital changes.

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