Exploring Pluto

What is the main reason Pluto is perpetually shrouded in darkness?

• Its large size

• Its rapid rotation

• Its thick atmosphere

• Its distance from the Sun

How far is Pluto from the Sun in astronomical units?

• 30 AU

• 40 AU

• 20 AU

• 10 AU

How long does it take Pluto to complete one orbit around the Sun?

• 500 Earth years

• 365 Earth years

• 248 Earth years

• 100 Earth years

What year did Pluto first pass its orbit perihelion since its discovery?

• 1989

• 2019

• 2009

• 1999

What was the main objective of the New Horizons mission?

• To bring back samples from Pluto

• To fly past Pluto and collect data

• To orbit around Pluto

• To land on Pluto

How long did it take for the New Horizons spacecraft to reach Pluto?

• 5 years

• 9.5 years

• 7 years

• 12 years

What is Pluto's core primarily made of?

• Carbon dioxide

• Iron and nickel

• Water ice and rocks

• Methane and nitrogen

What is the surface temperature of Pluto?

• 150 Kelvin

• 100 Kelvin

• 60 Kelvin

• 200 Kelvin

What is the informal nickname of Tombaugh Regio?

• The Eye

• The Heart

• The Brain

• The Hand

What is the main hypothesis for the formation of Sputnik Planitia?

• Volcanic activity

• Impact from a large celestial body

• Tectonic movements

• Erosion by wind