PROFILEDwarf planet
Why is Pluto a dwarf planet?
Pluto orbits the Sun and is nearly spherical, but has not cleared the neighbourhood of its orbit. This places it in the International Astronomical Union’s dwarf-planet category.
New Horizons
In 2015 New Horizons flew past Pluto, revealing mountains, plains and other features.
FACTS TO EXPLORE
ORBITAL PERIODabout 248 Earth years
LOCATIONKuiper Belt
Values are rounded. AU means astronomical unit. NASA source ↗
