PLUTO
Location
Pluto Location: 41.371186, -111.902065 | What3Words ///copiers.combustion.quest
Location Description: Near Main Entrance of North Fork Park.
Welcome to the Kuiper Belt, a donut shaped region of ice bodies beyond the orbit of Neptune, where Pluto, the largest known dwarf planet in the solar system resides. First discovered in 1930 Pluto was considered the ninth planet of our system for 75 years. The discovery of Eris and other similar objects led to its reclassification as a dwarf planet in 2006. According to the International Astronomical Union, which sets definitions for planetary science, a dwarf planet is a celestial body that orbits the sun, has enough mass to assume a nearly round shape, has not cleared the neighborhood around its orbit and is not a moon.
Pluto is smaller than Earth’s moon, yet it has a heart-shaped glacier the size of Texas and Oklahoma combined. Pluto has blue skies, five moons, mountains as high as the Rockies, and it snows – but the snow is composed of frozen methane, not frozen water like on Earth. Charon, Pluto’s largest moon, is so big that Pluto and Charon orbit each other like a double planet.
If you’re a fan of winter sports, you’ll love Pluto. While here, try skiing Pluto’s nitrogen adorned slopes, which rival any black diamond ski runs on Earth. Due to Pluto’s low gravity, the start will be slow, but don’t fret. You’ll end up cruising faster than skiing on Earth, compliments of Pluto’s low wind resistance.
The other known dwarf planets in the Kuiper Belt are Haumea, Eris, and Makemake. Though smaller than planets, all these objects are unique and fascinating in their own ways. Haumea, for example, is egg-shaped due to its incredibly fast spin rate. Thanks to science, new discoveries continue to expand our knowledge of the unkown.
Hope you have enjoyed the Ogden Valley Planet Tour. Safe travels on your return trip to Earth!