Neither Terrestrial nor Jovian
Physical Data
Note: In August of 2006, the International Astronomical Union, IAU, announced a new definition of the word "planet." Under this new definition, Pluto is no longer a considered a planet of the solar system, but rather a minor planet. Click here to learn more about what happened to Pluto.
Neither Terrestrial nor Jovian
Physical Data
| Average Distance from the Sun | 5.914 x 109 km = 39.53 AU |
| Aphelion | 7.381 x 109 km |
| Perihelion | 4.446 x 109 km |
| Orbital Velocity (ave.) | 4.7 km/s |
| Sidereal Period | 248.5 Years |
| Rotation Period | 6.387 days |
| Tilt of Rotation Axis | 17.1 degrees |
| Equatorial Diameter | 2,300 km |
| Mass | 1.29 x 1022 kg |
| Density (ave.) | 2030 kg/m3 |
| Escape Velocity | 1.1 km/s |
| Surface Temperature (ave.) | -223o C = -369oF = 50K |
-Definition: Astronomical Unit (AU) - the average
distance between the Earth and the Sun.
-Definition: Perihelion - the minimum distance
from the Sun.
-Definition: Aphelion - the maximum distance
from the Sun.
-Definition: Sidereal Period - the actual time
it takes for Pluto to orbit the Sun, with respect to the background stars
and not the position of the Sun.
Reference: Kaufmann, William J. Universe. Fourth Edition. W. H. Freeman and Company, New York. 1994.