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[[Image:Pluto3.gif|right|thumb|Pluto(center) with moon [[Charon]]. NASA image]]

[[Image:Pluto3.gif|right|thumb|Pluto(center) with moon [[Charon]]. NASA image]]

The [[dwarf planet]] '''Pluto''', named for the [[Roman]] [[god]] of the [[Underworld]], was discovered in 1930 by [[American]] [[astronomy|astronomer]] [[Clyde Tombaugh]].  In 2006, the [[International Astronomers Union]] demoted Pluto from the status of a [[planet]] to that of a dwarf planet. Recently there have been efforts to restore Pluto's status as a planet.<ref>http://www.courant.com/features/lifestyle/hc-pluto.artmar15,0,4959275.story?coll=hc-headlines-life</ref>  Pluto has at least three [[moon]]s, the largest of which is [[Charon]]. (The size of Charon is such that Pluto and Charon are often collectively considered to be a binary system.) Pluto has an elliptical orbit.  When it was considered to be a planet, it was usually considered to be the furtherest from the sun, but there are times due to its odd orbit when it is close than [[Neptune]].  Relatively little is known about Pluto. <ref>http://science.jrank.org/pages/5352/Pluto.html</ref>  

The [[dwarf planet]] '''Pluto''', named for the [[Roman]] [[god]] of the [[Underworld]], was discovered in 1930 by [[American]] [[astronomy|astronomer]] [[Clyde Tombaugh]].  Although considered to be a planet for most of its existence, it is no longer classified that way.

 

In 2006, the [[International Astronomers Union]] demoted Pluto from the status of a [[planet]] to that of a dwarf planet. Recently there have been efforts to restore Pluto's status as a planet.<ref>http://www.courant.com/features/lifestyle/hc-pluto.artmar15,0,4959275.story?coll=hc-headlines-life</ref>  Pluto has at least three [[moon]]s, the largest of which is [[Charon]]. (The size of Charon is such that Pluto and Charon are often collectively considered to be a binary system.) Pluto has an elliptical orbit.  When it was considered to be a planet, it was usually considered to be the furtherest from the sun, but there are times due to its odd orbit when it is closer than [[Neptune]].  Relatively little is known about Pluto. <ref>http://science.jrank.org/pages/5352/Pluto.html</ref>  

Pluto is the second-largest known [[dwarf planet]] in the solar system and the tenth largest observed body directly orbiting the [[Sun]].{{fact}}

Pluto is the second-largest known [[dwarf planet]] in the solar system and the tenth largest observed body directly orbiting the [[Sun]].{{fact}}

{{Solarsystem}}[[Category:Planets]]

{{Solarsystem}}

 

[[Category:Planets]]

[[Category:Astronomy]]