Views of the Solar System
Views of the Solar System: Dwarf Planet Pluto
Discover interesting information about the planet Pluto through a vast archive of photographs and scientific facts.
University of California
Ucla: What Makes a Planet
This detailed essay defines planets and compares the characteristics to those of Pluto. Orbital graphs and background information clarify the change in Pluto's categorization. A copy of IAU's Resolution 5 is also contained in this essay.
Enchanted Learning
Enchanted Learning: The Planets
This survey of the planets includes all the basics, size, mass, atmosphere, length of day, and the like. It features interactive activities and learning exercises and compares all of the planets in colorful tables.
Smithsonian Institution
National Air and Space Museum: Exploring the Planets: Our Solar System
Take a tour of our solar system and learn fascinating details and observations about the planets.
Nine Planets
The Nine Planets: Pluto
This site contains copious information about Pluto. The site contains descriptive and statistical information, as well as a detailed article about the search for trans-Plutonian planets and the "Nemesis" hypothesis.
BBC
Bbc Newsround: Pluto Pictures Show Hazy Horizon
View photos of Pluto from NASA's New Horizons probe.
NASA
Dawn Mission: Dawn Classrooms: Dwarf Planets
Students learn about dwarf planet classification through a researched-based instructional strategy called direct vocabulary instruction. Teacher guide and student activity sheet are included.
European Space Agency
European Space Agency: Esa Kids: Our Universe: Pluto
A basic overview of the dwarf planet Pluto. Links to information about the other planets and objects in our solar system are included.
Ducksters
Ducksters: Kids Science: Learn About the Dwarf Planet Pluto
Kids astronomy. What is Pluto like? How do we know about this dwarf planet?
NPR: National Public Radio
Npr: Why Is the Sky Blue? (On Pluto, That Is)
Read about the atmosphere of Pluto.
NASA
Nasa Space Science Data Archive: Pluto
This site, which is provided by the National Space Science Data Center of NASA, is a site with detailed information about Pluto, including planned missions to explore the planet in greater detail.
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas Mc Donald Observatory: Pluto
Discover interesting information about Pluto, a member of the Kuiper Belt and no longer a planet since 2006.
NASA
Nasa: Planetary Data Sytem: Welcome to the Planets
Collection of images, with vocalized explanatory captions, of the planets acquired by NASA as part of its exploratory space programs.
California Institute of Technology
Cool Cosmos: Ask an Astronomer: Pluto
Visit this site and learn more about Pluto. Provides the answers to kids' most frequently asked questions.
Cosmos 4 kids
Cosmos4 Kids: Solar System: Pluto
Learn all about Pluto ..its discovery, basic facts, recognition as a planet, and most recently, its 'demotion' from a planet to a dwarf planet. The brief, to the point text makes this site most suitable for younger researchers.
NASA
Nasa: Space Place: Messenger: Planet Mass Comparison
Compare the masses of planets in this interactive animation. Simply pile a number of Earths on one side of the scale, to balance with the mass of one Jupiter. Then try this with all the planets.
Library of Congress
Loc: Poetry 180: Forgotten Planet
This poet reminisces about childhood as he listens to his daughter's lack of undertanding about the names of the all of the planets.
NASA
Nasa: Mission Science: What Is a Planet?
Find out about how planets have been classified historically, and what scientists use to study them.
NASA
Nasa: Planets in a Bottle
In this simple lesson, students grow yeast to learn how the climates on each of the nine planets would affect life.
Read Works
Read Works: Mission Pluto
[Free Registration/Login Required] An informational text about Pluto being classified as a dwarf planet. A question sheet is available to help students build skills in reading comprehension.
Cool Math
Coolmath: Science Monster: Pluto
A cool fact sheet about Pluto including a place for students to enter their weight on Earth to convert it to what it would be on Pluto.
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: Pluto
Wikipedia, a publicly-maintained encyclopedia, provides an article on the dwarf planet, Pluto, including images, physical characteristics, history of its naming, the planet/dwarf planet debate, and more.
Nine Planets
The Nine Planets: An Overview of the Solar System
A detailed overview of the history, mythology, and current scientific knowledge of each of the planets and moons in the solar system.
Science4Fun
Science4 Fun: Pluto
Learn fun facts and details about the atmosphere, geography, composition, and discovery of Pluto, a dwarf planet.