The Dwarf Planet Pluto

A Hubble Space Telescope image of Pluto (left) and its moon Charon (right)

Some basic facts about Pluto

Did you know that:

• Pluto was discovered by American astronomer Clyde Tombaugh at the Lowell Observatory in Arizona in 1930.
• Pluto is the first and only planet to lose its planetary status, which happened in 2006 as a consequence of a vote of the International Astronomical Union.
• Although not planned, the NASA New Horizons mission launched in January 2006 will be the first mission to visit a dwarf planet.

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