Back to Space & Astronomy
❄️
☀️ Solar System
Dwarf Planets & Pluto
Pluto was demoted to dwarf planet in 2006; there are 5 recognised dwarf planets in our Solar System
Solar System 🌍 1930 Solar System
Key Facts
- 1
Pluto discovered 1930 by Clyde Tombaugh; reclassified as dwarf planet by IAU in 2006 — 6th international vote
- 2
5 recognised dwarf planets: Pluto, Eris, Haumea, Makemake, Ceres (Ceres is in the asteroid belt)
- 3
New Horizons probe (2015) gave first close-up of Pluto: a heart-shaped nitrogen ice plain (Tombaugh Regio) was revealed
🌌 Did you know? Pluto has 5 moons; its largest moon Charon is so big relative to Pluto that they orbit each other — a double dwarf planet
Quick Reference
Category
Solar System
Region
🌍 Solar System
Year / Era
1930
About
Pluto was demoted to dwarf planet in 2006