The Taipei Astronomical Museum announced that Pluto will be in opposition on July 25th, making it the closest and brightest to Earth, visible throughout the night.
Once one of the nine major planets, Pluto is now classified as a dwarf planet. It is set to have its brightest moment of the year as it reaches opposition on the 25th. This icy world on the edge of the solar system will not only be the closest and brightest to Earth but also visible all night, presenting the best observation opportunity of the year.
Despite being around 32.3 astronomical units away from Earth, which is about 4.9 billion kilometers, Pluto will have a brightness of only 14.4 magnitudes, making it about 1,500 times dimmer than the limit visible to the naked eye. Nevertheless, the museum has successfully tracked its presence in deep space using professional equipment, allowing the public to catch a glimpse of this distant celestial body.
Discovered in 1930, Pluto was classified as the ninth planet in the solar system for over 70 years. It was not until 2006 when the International Astronomical Union (IAU) redefined the criteria for a planet that Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet, exiting the lineup of major planets. Despite this reclassification, it remains one of the most intriguing outer worlds of the solar system.
The appeal of Pluto stems not only from the controversy surrounding its classification but also from the unexpected vitality it exhibits. In 2015, NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft flew past Pluto and transmitted high-resolution images revealing huge heart-shaped plains of nitrogen ice and ice tectonic features, suggesting the presence of ice volcanoes and subsurface oceans.
These discoveries have completely overturned the previous notion of Pluto as a “dead ice world,” making it a focal point of planetary science once again. This year marks the tenth anniversary of the New Horizons spacecraft’s flyby of Pluto, further solidifying the scientific importance of this “dethroned planet” in unraveling the formation and evolution of the solar system.
Furthermore, the Taipei Astronomical Museum has announced that the upcoming weeks will provide the best window for capturing images of Pluto. Astronomy enthusiasts with larger telescopes are encouraged to try capturing its traces during this period. For more observation information, visit the museum’s website’s “Astronomical Forecast” section.