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Pluto Pluto

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Planet Profile

Mass (kg)............................................1.29 x 10^22
Diameter (km)........................................2300
Mean density (kg/m^3) ...............................2030
Escape velocity (m/sec)..............................1100

Average distance from Sun (AU).......................39.53
Rotation period (length of day) (in Earth days)......6.39
Revolution period (length of year) (in Earth years)..247.7

Obliquity (tilt of axis) (degrees)...................122.5
Orbit inclination (degrees)..........................17.15
Orbit eccentricity...................................0.248

Mean temperature (K).................................37

Visual geometric albedo..............................about 0.5

Atmospheric components...............................perhaps 
                                                     methane and 
                                                     nitrogen 
Surface materials....................................perhaps 
						     methane ice

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Telescopic View

This view of Pluto was taken by the Hubble Space Telescope. It shows a rare image of tiny Pluto with its moon Charon, which is slightly smaller than the planet. Because Pluto has not yet been visited by any spacecraft, it remains a mysterious planet. Due to its great distance from the sun, Pluto's surface is believed to reach temperatures as low as -240øC (-400øF). From Pluto's surface, the sun appears as only a very bright star. No images of Pluto's or Charon's surface have yet been acquired.

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