HOW BIG
DiscoverDistances

Distances

Pluto’s orbit: size, dimension and comparison

The adopted reference is about 1.1818E10 km.

major axis of the orbit ≈ 79 AU

11.818 billion km ≈ 11,818 million km. One billion kilometers is 1,000 million kilometers.

An elliptical orbit wider than Neptune's.

Explore at this scale
Pluto’s orbit, interpreted illustration
Interpreted illustration · dimension stated in the fact sheet.

What does this number measure?

The major axis is the longest diameter of the orbit: about twice the semi-major axis of 39.5 AU. It is neither Pluto's diameter nor a constant distance from the Sun. The orbit is inclined, and its flat depiction is simplified.

Compare the stated dimensions

The comparison uses the number in each fact sheet: altitude, height, diameter, length or distance, depending on the reference. Two values in metres do not necessarily describe the same property.

Compare with Classical Kuiper belt in the explorer →

Source and limitations

Proposed documented order of magnitude; source linked, not individually audited during this session. Model regions and boundaries are highly uncertain.

Pluto's orbit: the major axis is the horizontal extent of the ellipse. Simplified educational projection, with the Sun at one focus of the ellipse; the small dot is a symbolic marker drawn out of scale, not a position observed on a particular date.