Friday, December 8, 2017

How Old Is Pluto...?

I'm talking about the Pluto in space, not the Pluto from Disney.

The whole Pluto thing is a bit confusing. This article may explain it far better than I could.

When Will Pluto Complete Its First Orbit Since Its Discovery?

By Live Science Staff

The eighth planet from our sun was discovered on September 23, 1846. Neptune takes a very long time to orbit the sun 164.8 Earth years, in fact and today Neptune completed its first orbit of the sun since it was discovered. Congratulations!

Now, this got us wondering, when will Pluto complete its first orbit since its discovery? (Yes, yes. Our brains know that Pluto is no longer a planet, but in our hearts ... Pluto!) After all, Pluto is even farther out (most of the time ) than Neptune, and was discovered much more recently. Will we even be around to celebrate it's orbital birthday? To the mathmobile!

Pluto was discovered on February 18, 1930. It takes the dwarf planet 248.09 Earth years to complete one orbit around the sun. Plug all that info into timeanddate.com's handy calculator, and we find that Pluto will complete its first full orbit since its discovery on Monday, March 23, 2178, just a few years after Neptune turns 2.

We all clear now? I'm glad that we have that little bit of confusion straightened out. On questions like this, I have to wonder...who really cares?

Coffee in the kitchen again today. It's cold outside!

9 comments:

Hermit's Baby Sis said...

Happy Orbit Birthday, Neptune! Computer back up and working, praise be!

Big snow hugs this morning - stay warm!

Rob said...

March 23rd, 2178? I'll keep the date open!

Momlady said...

Don't think I'll make it to the party. I'll be long gone.

JO said...

Hhmmmm interesting.

Baby it's cold outside!! we are at 29 this morning and won't get to warm later on today.
So glad I made an extra feeder up last night for the hummers they are going to need it. And I am going to need lots of nice hot coffee

HermitJim said...

Hey Sis...
What the heck? Snowing in Houston...? Glad your 'puter is back up, sis.
Thanks for coming over this morning!


Hey Rob...
I'm sure we all will have an open date then.
Thanks for coming over today!


Hey Momlady...
We probably all will be gone by then.
Thanks for the visit today!

linda m said...

Sorry, I on't be alive to celebrate the day. Very cold outside here also, just no snow - yet. Guess winter is here. Have a great weekend.

HermitJim said...

Hey Jo...
Days like this are made to cuddle up! We actually have snow on the ground here. Can you believe it?
Thanks, sweetie, for dropping by today!


Hey Linda...
I am NOT going out unless I have to, that's for sure!
Thanks for stopping by this morning!

Dizzy-Dick said...

Not only that, but its orbit is not in the same plane as the other planets. That makes one think that it was just passing by at an angle to the plane of the other planets' orbits and got caught by our sun's gravity.

HermitJim said...

Hey Dizzy...
Anything's possible, I reckon. Space is such a mystery to me, I don't even try and understand it.
Thanks for coming over this morning!