Winton Eliott
Pluto is a dwarf planet located in the Kuiper belt, beyond Neptune. It is the second-largest and second-most-massive known dwarf planet in the solar system and the ninth-largest and tenth-most massive object directly orbiting the sun.
Pluto was discovered by Clyde Tombaugh in 1930 and was originally considered to be the ninth planet from the sun.
After 1992, when objects similar to Pluto were found to orbit other stars, it was reclassified as a “dwarf planet” by the International Astronomical Union (IAU).
How far is Pluto from Earth?
Pluto is quite far from Earth, located about 3.67 billion miles away.
Despite its distance, Pluto has a significant influence on our solar system, affecting the orbits of Neptune and other distant planets.
Due to its relatively small size compared to other planets, Pluto does not receive as much attention as it deserves, but scientists continue to study this mysterious world to better understand our solar system.
- Read also: How Cold is Pluto
- Read also: How Far Away is Jupiter
How long would it take to get to Pluto?
Assuming you could travel at the speed of light, it would take about 4.67 hours to get to Pluto using a spacecraft.
However, even the fastest man-made object, the Parker Solar Probe, only reaches about 430,000 miles per hour, which would extend the journey to about 9 years.
Using current technology, the fastest way to get to Pluto would be on a space shuttle traveling at 17,500 miles per hour.
At that speed, the trip would take about 227 years.
Of course, future advances in technology could shorten that time considerably. But for now, even the quickest option would require a very long journey.
Is there any life on Pluto?
If there is any life on Pluto, it would likely be very different from anything we are familiar with here on Earth.
For one thing, Pluto is incredibly cold, with an average temperature of around -230 degrees Celsius.
This extreme cold would make it difficult for most Earth organisms to survive. In addition, Pluto has a very thin atmosphere, which means that there is less protection from the Sun’s ultraviolet radiation.
As a result, any life on Pluto would probably have to be able to withstand harsh conditions in order to survive.
Assuming that there is some form of life on Pluto, it is possible that it could be similar to the extremophiles that are found on Earth.
Extremophiles can live in harsh environments, such as in freezing cold water or boiling hot springs. Some extremophiles even thrive in radioactive environments.
If there is any life on Pluto, it is likely that it would be some form of extremophile that has adapted to the planet’s unique conditions.
What would astronauts need to wear or bring to survive on Pluto?
Astronauts or other people would need to wear or bring many things with them to survive on Pluto.
They would need a space suit to protect them from the cold and lack of air.
They would need a space suit to protect them from radiation. They would need food and water. And they would need some way to keep themselves warm.
One option for keeping themselves warm would be to wear a fur suit.
Another option would be to use a space heater.
Or, they could bring fire with them. Whatever they choose, they will need to be sure to pack plenty of supplies because there is no telling how long they will be on Pluto.
How is the day-to-day experience of living on Pluto?
For starters, the temperature on Pluto would be a bit of a shock. Even at its warmest, the surface of Pluto only reaches about minus 378 degrees Fahrenheit.
And since Pluto has no atmosphere, there is nothing to trap heat or protect against the cold. As a result, any exposed surfaces would quickly freeze solid.
Of course, this extreme cold would also have an impact on the water supply.
On Earth, most of our water is in liquid form, but on Pluto, it would all be frozen solid. This would make it very difficult to find drinking water or to grow crops.
In fact, it is thought that the average person would only be able to survive for a few hours on the surface of Pluto without some sort of protective gear.
And even with the right gear, life would still be incredibly challenging.
The constant darkness and lack of atmosphere would make it difficult to tell day from night, and the constant cold would make it hard to get any kind of work done.
But despite all these challenges, there are some who say that living on Pluto would be an adventure like no other.
After all, where else can you say you’ve lived on a planet that is so far from the Sun that it takes 248 years to orbit around it?
- Read also: How Far Away is Venus
- Read also: How Far Away is Saturn
Summary
It would take a very long time to get to Pluto using traditional methods of transportation, but with new technology, it is possible to explore the planet and its conditions.
Although there is no evidence that life exists on Pluto, if it does exist, it may be very different from any form of life we know.
If you were an astronaut or other explorer going to live on Pluto, you would need to be prepared for extreme conditions and a very different day-to-day experience.
Are there any other planets in our solar system that you are curious about? Let us know in the comments!
