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Line 35: − + − − Its name literally means "god of wealth" and is one of the two names for one of the brothers of Zeus; the other is Hades, or "god of the underworld." (The Romans used only the name ''Pluto'' for this god.) (To read more about the legend of Hades/Pluto the Olympian, read [[Pluto (god)|here]].) − − According to the [[International Astronomical Union]], it no longer qualifies as a [[planet]] because it has not cleared its orbit of other objects. But the IAU decided that under circumstances at least one observer calls suspicious. (See below.) − − Line 49:
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'''134340 Pluto''' is a [[dwarf planet]] in the Kuiper belt of the outer solar system. It was discovered in 1930 by American astronomer Clyde Tombaugh. It is orbited by a large moon called Charon as well as by two smaller moons, Nix and Hydra. Charon was discovered in 1978.
'''134340 Pluto''' is a [[dwarf planet]] in the Kuiper belt of the outer solar system. It was discovered in 1930 by American astronomer Clyde Tombaugh. It is orbited by a large moon called Charon as well as by two smaller moons, Nix and Hydra. Charon was discovered in 1978.
Pluto was classified as one of the nine major planets until 2006. It is smaller than all eight of the major planets. NASA once thought it smaller than [[Eris]], a recently discovered dwarf planet.<ref>http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/070614_eris_mass.html</ref> But that turns out not to be true. In fact, Pluto is the largest object in the [[Kuiper Belt]].
Pluto was classified as one of the nine major planets until 2006. Pluto is the Roman god of the underworld. In 2015 the U.S. spacecraft ''New Horizons'' passed through the Plutonian system.
In 2015 the U.S. spacecraft ''New Horizons'' passed through the Plutonian system. The [[United States]] thus became the first nation-state to complete a reconnaissance of the original nine named planets. ''New Horizons'' found many signs that are ''not'' consistent with the conventional favored theory of Pluto's origin. Pluto has mountains that have not eroded. That suggests the body is active. Pluto also has a frozen lake of carbon monoxide that no one has yet been able to explain.
== Discovery ==
== Discovery ==
When astronomers realized that Pluto is not large enough to influence Neptune's orbit, the search for Planet X was resumed. The idea of Planet X was debunked in 1989, when [[Voyager 2]] flew by Neptune. NASA scientists determined that Neptune was significantly heavier than previously supposed, invalidating the earlier orbital calculations by Lowell and others.
When astronomers realized that Pluto is not large enough to influence Neptune's orbit, the search for Planet X was resumed. The idea of Planet X was debunked in 1989, when [[Voyager 2]] flew by Neptune. NASA scientists determined that Neptune was significantly heavier than previously supposed, invalidating the earlier orbital calculations by Lowell and others.
==Character==
Pluto is smaller any of the eight of the major planets. NASA once thought it smaller than [[Eris]], a recently discovered dwarf planet.<ref>http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/070614_eris_mass.html</ref> But that turns out not to be true. In fact, Pluto is the largest object in the [[Kuiper Belt]].
It's name literally means "god of wealth" and is one of the two names for one of the brothers of Zeus; the other is Hades, or "god of the underworld." (The Romans used only the name ''Pluto'' for this god.) (To read more about the legend of Hades/Pluto the Olympian, read [[Pluto (god)|here]].)
According to the [[International Astronomical Union]], it no longer qualifies as a [[planet]] because it has not cleared its orbit of other objects. But the IAU decided that under circumstances at least one observer calls suspicious.
In 2015 the U.S. spacecraft ''New Horizons'' passed through the Plutonian system. ''New Horizons'' found many signs that are ''not'' consistent with the conventional favored theory of Pluto's origin. Pluto has mountains that have not eroded. That suggests the body is active. Pluto also has a frozen lake of carbon monoxide that no one has yet been able to explain.
== The dwarf planet controversy ==
== The dwarf planet controversy ==