Pluto Day: History, Facts & Insights

This is an in-depth look at all the must-know facts about Pluto Day (2024) 🗓️ that no one tells you about. Pluto Day is observed on February 18th.

Among the information you’ll find below: the history of Pluto Day, activities to do on and how to observe this holiday, as well as fun facts you may want to know about Pluto Day.

📅 What day is Pluto Day 2024?

In 2024, Pluto Day is on Saturday, February 18th. It is the 3rd Saturday in February; in 2024, it is Sunday. There are until the next observance. You also can discover all intriguing details and facts about February 18, 2023, that you might not be aware of.

Every year on February 18th, we celebrate Pluto Day to commemorate the discovery of Pluto in 1930. This small planet, known for its unique snowy mountains, was found by American astronomer Clyde Tombaugh. For many years, Pluto was considered the ninth planet of our solar system, alongside the likes of Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. It is worth noting that Clyde made this groundbreaking discovery at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, just 84 years after the discovery of Neptune.

📜 Pluto Day History

After the discovery of Neptune, it was seen as a confirmation of celestial mechanics in astronomy. It was noticed that Uranus’ orbit was being affected by another planet, which led to Percival Lowell’s search for Pluto, initially called Planet X. Clyde Tombaugh took over the search after Lowell’s death and successfully found Pluto.

Until 2006, Pluto was considered one of the solar system’s nine planets, named after the Roman deity of the Underworld. However, it was later reclassified as a “dwarf” planet by the International Astronomical Union due to not meeting the criteria for a full-sized planet and being smaller than Earth. The first two letters of “Pluto” are believed to be a tribute to Percival Lowell, whose belief in the existence of additional planets beyond Neptune contributed to its discovery.

✅ Pluto Day Facts

🔖 Pluto and nitrogen
Scientists believe that the primary component of Pluto’s atmosphere is nitrogen gas.

🔖 Pluto’s is a 153.3-hour long day
Pluto’s distance from the sun is 40 times greater than that of Earth, which causes its orbit to be slow-paced. It takes Pluto approximately 6.4 Earth days or 153.3 hours to complete a full orbit.

🔖 It has five known moons
According to astronomers, the dwarf planet is believed to be accompanied by five satellites that are revolving around it.

👍 Why Is Pluto Day Important

Pluto Day serves as a reminder of the historical significance of astronomy. The day’s goal is to pique the interest of young Americans in astronomy by appealing to their natural curiosity about the universe. It is the day on which everyone is reminded of the gains in understanding of our cosmos made possible by the disciples.

Although we prefer to think of ourselves as living on the edge of space, saying things like “The satellite is out in space,” the Earth is, in reality, a part of space, and we are now in it. Pluto Day encourages us to reflect on our place in the world.

On Pluto Day, many more people typically reflect on how fortunate we are that Earth, one of many planets in our galaxy, happens to be hospitable to life as we know it today, as opposed to the hostile and merciless environments of the other planets in our galaxy. The festival serves as a reminder of how valuable our planet is in comparison to others in the cosmos.

🙂 How To Observe Pluto Day

⚡ Set up a telescope

⚡ Watch a documentary about Pluto
If you’re unable to visit or celebrate the planet Pluto in person, watching a video about it is the next best thing. There are several documentaries available, such as “The Year of Pluto,” “Mission Pluto,” and “Chasing Pluto,” that offer a fantastic opportunity to transport yourself to the planet and see it through the eyes of astronauts. You can even join the conversation by using the hashtag #PlutoDay to discuss any of these documentaries.

⚡ Read about planets
Pluto Day usually has special festivities at planetariums, observatories, and other facilities that study the solar system. However, you might be more interested in building your own telescope and peering into the night sky to see if you can spot known planets or perhaps discover one for yourself!

📅 When is Pluto Day?

View all 🔗 February holidays, including 🔗 Special Interest and other 🔗 Appreciation holidays.

We will continue to update this page with new information and interesting facts about Pluto Day. So be sure to check back soon.