What is the distance from the Earth to Pluto, and what is the interest of the dwarf planet?

People who are interested in the theme of the cosmos, for sure at least once in their lives wondered - what is the distance from the Earth to Pluto? It is great. This can be stated with confidence and without much knowledge in the subject. But still, the question is interesting, and therefore it is worth giving a detailed and informative answer to it.

general information

Before talking about the distance from Earth to Pluto, it is worth noting the attention to several important nuances concerning this topic.

So, our planet rotates around the Sun in an elliptical orbit. If expressed in a simpler language, then it is a little stretched. But in Pluto, the orbit is even more elongated. You can even say, oval. During perihelion, the planet approaches the Sun. And the distance from the star to Pluto is 4,400,000,000 kilometers. This is a huge figure. But even further from the Sun the planet is in aphelion. In this case, the distance increases by another 3 billion kilometers. It is not surprising that such dynamics are reflected in the temperature that reigns on the surface of the dwarf planet. When Pluto is closest to the Sun, the nitrogen snow on it melts, resulting in a sparse atmosphere around it.

Relative to the Earth

But now you can apply data to our planet. The distance from the Earth to Pluto is also not fixed. This is understandable, because it changes with respect to the Sun. The distance from Earth to Pluto in kilometers varies from 4.2 to 7.5 billion. Why is the indicator larger? It's simple. Because our planet also orbit. And when the Earth hits precisely in the center between the Sun and Pluto (or, to be more precise, it is on the line that connects them), then the distance can be either 4.2 or 7.2 billion. It all depends on where the dwarf planet is at that moment. But six months later, the distance from Earth to Pluto will be 4.6 or 7.5 billion. At this moment, our planet is also on the notorious line, but beyond the Sun.

Despite all this dynamics, the distance from the Earth to Pluto in km can be considered stable. In any case, the consistency is traced.

Light years

Now you can translate everything into this unit of measurement, which for the cosmos is more familiar. And for starters it is worth recalling that the light year is the distance traveled by the light distributed in vacuum for 12 months. And it moves with great speed. It is about 300 thousand kilometers per second. What does this mean? The fact that light for one second only 7.5 times flies around our globe. In general, if it is emitted from the Earth, then before Pluto it will heal within 5.5 hours. Which are 0.00062 light years. This is the distance from the Earth to Pluto.

By the way, scientists-researchers assure: if a person wants to see this planet, then his desire can be safely compared with an attempt to consider a walnut, located 50 kilometers from the point of observation.

Interesting Facts

And finally - a bit of fascinating information about Pluto. Very few people know, but its very first name is Planet X. And by the way, Pluto passes one revolution around the Sun in 248 years.

People who are fond of space themes, for sure, may be interested in the eternal question: is it possible to consider this planet suitable for life? The answer is unequivocally negative. After all, the atmosphere of Pluto consists of a "hellish" mixture of carbon monoxide, methane and nitrogen. And on the very surface there is an incredible cold (-229 ° C, to be more precise).

And yet, this planet is often confused with one of her companions, who is Charon. All because they are almost the same in terms of dimensions. Even the official name of this planet sounds like "Asteroid No. 134340".

But everything that gets to Pluto, it becomes ten times less - another mystery of the universe. If, say, a thing that weighs 90 kilograms on the Earth, will get to Pluto, its weight will decrease to 5.5 kg. All because of the weak gravity.

By the way, there is a theory put forward by some astronomers who considered Pluto a lost companion of Neptune. If you believe their assumptions, then he just left his atmosphere and formed his own orbit. And before that, Pluto was considered the last, the 9th planet in our solar system, but then discovered 2003 UB 313. Then came the idea and the grounds for calling it the tenth.

In general, you can tell a lot about Pluto. But with certainty it is necessary to state one thing - the facts known to us are not exactly all that take place. The cosmos and what is connected with it, was and will remain a big mystery.