WEBVTT

1
00:00:03.399 --> 00:00:08.880
Welcome to Bedtime Astronomy. Explore the
wonders of the cosmos with our soothing Bedtime

2
00:00:08.880 --> 00:00:14.560
Astronomy podcast. Each episode offers a
gentle journey through the stars, planets,

3
00:00:14.800 --> 00:00:19.800
and beyond. Perfect for unwinding after
a long day. Let's travel through the

4
00:00:19.800 --> 00:00:23.519
mysteries of the universe as you drift
off into a peaceful slumber under the night

5
00:00:23.559 --> 00:00:36.640
sky. Pluto be uncharted frontier once
consider the ninth planet of our Solar system.

6
00:00:36.799 --> 00:00:45.159
Pluto's story is one of discovery,
reclassification, and ongoing exploration. The

7
00:00:45.280 --> 00:00:50.640
journey of Pluto began in nineteen thirty
one. Clyde Tombaugh, a young astronomer

8
00:00:50.719 --> 00:00:57.320
working at the Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, identified a distant, faint

9
00:00:57.359 --> 00:01:04.319
object moving across the sky. This
discovery was the culmination of a search initiated

10
00:01:04.359 --> 00:01:11.239
by Percival Lowell, who had hypothesized
the existence of a planet X beyond Neptune

11
00:01:11.280 --> 00:01:18.480
to account for perceived discrepancies in the
orbits of the outer planets. Tom bos

12
00:01:18.519 --> 00:01:23.840
meticulous work paid off when he captured
images of a distant body, confirming the

13
00:01:23.879 --> 00:01:30.560
existence of a new planet. This
newly discovered world was named Pluto. Following

14
00:01:30.599 --> 00:01:38.760
a suggestion by an eleven year old
girl from England, Venetia Burnie. She

15
00:01:38.920 --> 00:01:42.560
proposed the name in reference to the
Roman god of the underworld, fitting for

16
00:01:42.599 --> 00:01:51.359
such a distant dark place. For
over seventy years, Pluto was considered the

17
00:01:51.480 --> 00:01:55.920
ninth planet of our Solar System,
orbiting the Sun in a region known as

18
00:01:55.959 --> 00:02:00.000
the Kuiper Belt, a vast expanse
filled with icy bodies and remnants from the

19
00:02:00.079 --> 00:02:08.000
Solar System's formation. Pluto's status as
a planet was widely accepted, and it

20
00:02:08.120 --> 00:02:15.360
captured the imagination of astronomers and the
public alike. Pluto is a small,

21
00:02:15.879 --> 00:02:23.120
rocky, an icy world significantly smaller
than Earth's Moon, with a diameter of

22
00:02:23.159 --> 00:02:30.520
about two thousand, three hundred and
seventy seven kilometers. It orbits the Sun

23
00:02:30.599 --> 00:02:36.879
at an average distance of approximately five
point nine billion kilometers, taking about two

24
00:02:37.000 --> 00:02:43.960
hundred and forty eight Earth years to
complete one orbit. Its orbit is highly

25
00:02:44.000 --> 00:02:49.280
elliptical, sometimes bringing it closer to
the Sun than Neptune, a fact that

26
00:02:49.360 --> 00:02:58.599
intrigued astronomers and added to its mysterious
allure. One of the most notable features

27
00:02:58.599 --> 00:03:05.479
of Pluto is its composition. Pluto
is primarily made of ice, and rock,

28
00:03:05.879 --> 00:03:10.520
with a surface covered in a variety
of ices, including nitrogen, methane,

29
00:03:10.800 --> 00:03:19.439
and carbon monoxide. This composition gives
Pluto a distinct appearance, with a

30
00:03:19.560 --> 00:03:27.159
surface that can appear bright and reflective
due to these icy materials. The temperature

31
00:03:27.199 --> 00:03:32.039
on Pluto is incredibly low, averaging
around minus two hundred and thirty two degrees

32
00:03:32.120 --> 00:03:39.879
celsius, cold enough to freeze most
gases into solid ice. Pluto's surface is

33
00:03:39.919 --> 00:03:46.039
a complex and varied landscape, with
regions of mountains, plains, and valleys.

34
00:03:49.360 --> 00:03:53.039
One of the most striking features is
a vast heart shaped region known as

35
00:03:53.080 --> 00:04:00.599
tom Maureggio, named in honor of
Clyde Tombaugh. This region is divided into

36
00:04:00.639 --> 00:04:08.400
two distinct lobes, a western lobe
composed of nitrogen ice called Sputnek Planidia,

37
00:04:08.800 --> 00:04:16.079
and an eastern lobe covered in methane
ice. Sput Nek Planidia in particular as

38
00:04:16.120 --> 00:04:23.680
captivated scientists due to its smooth,
relatively crater free surface, indicating that it

39
00:04:23.720 --> 00:04:30.279
is geologically young and active. The
discovery of Pluto's moons further added to its

40
00:04:30.360 --> 00:04:39.800
intrigue. In nineteen seventy eight,
astronomer James Christie discovered a large moon orbiting

41
00:04:39.839 --> 00:04:44.560
Pluto, which was later named Sharon, after the ferrymen of the dead in

42
00:04:44.600 --> 00:04:50.839
Greek mythology. Scharin is about half
the size of Pluto, making it one

43
00:04:50.879 --> 00:04:58.519
of the largest moon's relative to its
parent body in the Solar System. The

44
00:04:58.600 --> 00:05:03.360
discovery of Sharon A allowed astronomers to
learn more about Pluto's mass and density,

45
00:05:03.399 --> 00:05:14.079
providing important clues about its composition.
Sharon and Pluto share a unique relationship.

46
00:05:15.360 --> 00:05:20.040
They are tidally locked, meaning they
always show the same face to each other

47
00:05:20.120 --> 00:05:28.519
as they orbit a common center of
gravity outside of Pluto itself. This binary

48
00:05:28.600 --> 00:05:32.040
system is unique among the planets and
the moons in our Solar System, and

49
00:05:32.120 --> 00:05:41.560
as fascinated astronomers and planetary scientists.
The discovery of additional moons in the early

50
00:05:41.680 --> 00:05:47.759
twenty first century added more layers to
the story of Pluto. In two thousand

51
00:05:47.759 --> 00:05:54.519
and five, two small moons Mix
and Hydra were discovered by the Hubble Space

52
00:05:54.600 --> 00:06:02.079
Telescope. These moons are much smaller
than Sharon and orbit Pluto at greater distances.

53
00:06:03.879 --> 00:06:11.040
Further discoveries followed with the identification of
two more small moons, Kerberos and

54
00:06:11.160 --> 00:06:19.040
Styx, in twenty eleven. In
twenty twelve, respectively. These discoveries highlighted

55
00:06:19.079 --> 00:06:25.160
the complexity and richness of the Pluto
system, suggesting that it had a more

56
00:06:25.160 --> 00:06:33.319
intricate history than previously thought. Despite
its fascinating characteristics, Pluto's status as a

57
00:06:33.360 --> 00:06:41.720
planet came into question in the late
twentieth and early twenty first centuries. The

58
00:06:41.800 --> 00:06:46.360
discovery of numerous other Kuiper Belt objects, some of which were comparable in size

59
00:06:46.399 --> 00:06:54.839
to Pluto, led to a reevaluation
of what constitutes a planet. This debate

60
00:06:55.000 --> 00:07:00.920
reached a climax in two thousand and
six when the International Astronomical Union IAU redefined

61
00:07:00.959 --> 00:07:09.800
the criteria for planetary status. According
to the new definition, a planet must

62
00:07:09.920 --> 00:07:14.759
orbit the Sun, be spherical in
shape, and have cleared the neighborhood around

63
00:07:14.759 --> 00:07:19.959
its orbit. Pluto met the first
two criteria, but failed the third,

64
00:07:20.360 --> 00:07:28.600
as it shares its orbital space with
other Kuiper Belt objects. As a result,

65
00:07:29.000 --> 00:07:34.439
Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet, a decision that sparked considerable controversy

66
00:07:34.680 --> 00:07:45.439
and debate. The reclassification of Pluto
did not diminish scientific interest in this distant

67
00:07:45.480 --> 00:07:54.839
world. In fact, it fueled
further exploration and study. In two thousand

68
00:07:54.879 --> 00:08:00.319
and six, the New Horizon's mission, a NASA spacecraft, was launched with

69
00:08:00.360 --> 00:08:03.879
the primary goal of conducting a fly
by study of Pluto and its moons.

70
00:08:07.279 --> 00:08:11.399
After a journey of nearly a decade, New Horizons made its closest approach to

71
00:08:11.480 --> 00:08:18.040
Pluto on July fourteenth, twenty fifteen, providing humanity with the first close up

72
00:08:18.079 --> 00:08:26.680
images and detailed data about this enigmatic
world. The data and images sent back

73
00:08:26.720 --> 00:08:35.120
by New Horizons revolutionized our understanding of
Pluto. The spacecraft revealed a world far

74
00:08:35.200 --> 00:08:43.720
more complex and dynamic than previously imagined. The detailed images of Pluto's surface showed

75
00:08:43.720 --> 00:08:50.360
a diverse landscape, including vast plains, towering mountains, and intricate patterns of

76
00:08:50.399 --> 00:08:56.840
ice and rock. The heart shaped
tom Mau Regio, with its smooth,

77
00:08:56.320 --> 00:09:03.519
bright plains, suggested recent geological activity, possibly driven by the slow convection of

78
00:09:03.639 --> 00:09:11.840
nitrogen ice. The presence of mountains
made of water ice, some rising as

79
00:09:11.960 --> 00:09:16.759
high as three thousand, five hundred
meters, hinted at a surprisingly robust internal

80
00:09:16.799 --> 00:09:28.720
structure. New Horizons also provided valuable
insights into Pluto's atmosphere. It detected a

81
00:09:28.799 --> 00:09:35.480
thin, extended atmosphere primarily composed of
nitrogen with traces of methane and carbon monoxide.

82
00:09:37.759 --> 00:09:43.519
This atmosphere is subject to seasonal changes, expanding when Pluto is closer to

83
00:09:43.559 --> 00:09:52.240
the Sun and contracting as it moves
further away. The spacecraft's instruments measured the

84
00:09:52.399 --> 00:09:58.320
escape rate of atmospheric particles, providing
crucial data on how Pluto's atmosphere evolves over

85
00:09:58.399 --> 00:10:09.600
time. The exploration of Pluto's moons
by New Horizons also yielded fascinating discoveries.

86
00:10:11.080 --> 00:10:18.799
Sharing with its rugged, varied terrain, featured a massive canyon system, possibly

87
00:10:18.919 --> 00:10:26.879
formed by the freezing and expansion of
a subsurface ocean. The smaller moons Nix,

88
00:10:26.399 --> 00:10:33.200
Hydra, Kerberos, and Styx were
found to have irregular shapes in chaotic

89
00:10:33.320 --> 00:10:41.279
rotations, adding to the complexity of
the Pluto system. Pluto's reclassification as a

90
00:10:41.360 --> 00:10:48.720
dwarf planet has not diminished its scientific
significance. It remains a subject of intense

91
00:10:48.759 --> 00:10:56.080
study and interest, providing valuable insights
into the processes that shape the outer Solar

92
00:10:56.159 --> 00:11:03.000
System. The data collected by New
Horizons continue to be analyzed, offering new

93
00:11:03.039 --> 00:11:11.080
perspectives on the formation and evolution of
icy worlds. Beyond Neptune. Pluto's story

94
00:11:11.240 --> 00:11:20.840
is one of discovery, reevaluation,
and exploration. From its initial identification as

95
00:11:20.879 --> 00:11:26.200
the ninth planet of our Solar System
to its reclassification as a dwarf planet,

96
00:11:26.559 --> 00:11:33.480
Pluto has captivated astronomers in the public
alike. The New Horizons missions fly by

97
00:11:33.639 --> 00:11:41.879
provided unprecedented insights into this distant world, revealing a complex and dynamic landscape shaped

98
00:11:41.919 --> 00:11:50.399
by geological and atmospheric processes. Despite
its reclassification, Pluto remains a key piece

99
00:11:50.399 --> 00:11:56.720
of the puzzle in our quest to
understand the outer reaches of our Solar System.

100
00:11:58.320 --> 00:12:03.360
Its story is a testament to the
ever evolving nature of scientific knowledge and

101
00:12:03.440 --> 00:12:13.919
our relentless curiosity to explore the unknown. Pluto's status and significance extend beyond its

102
00:12:13.960 --> 00:12:22.600
physical characteristics and scientific data. It
has become a cultural icon, representing the

103
00:12:22.639 --> 00:12:30.039
idea of exploration and the quest for
knowledge. Its demotion from planet to dwarf

104
00:12:30.080 --> 00:12:35.360
planet sparked public debate and a renewed
interest in astronomy, highlighting how our understanding

105
00:12:35.399 --> 00:12:43.320
of the universe is always subject to
change as we gather more information. The

106
00:12:43.440 --> 00:12:48.559
exploration of Pluto has also paved the
way for future missions to the outer Solar

107
00:12:48.679 --> 00:12:56.519
System. The success of new Horizons
demonstrated the feasibility and value of exploring distant,

108
00:12:58.080 --> 00:13:05.200
icy worlds. It has inspired new
proposals for missions to other Kuiper Belt

109
00:13:05.240 --> 00:13:11.519
objects and even more distant targets in
the Solar System. These missions aim to

110
00:13:11.600 --> 00:13:18.600
further our understanding of the diversity and
complexity of these remote regions, shedding light

111
00:13:18.679 --> 00:13:26.320
on the processes that shaped our Solar
systems formation and evolution. In addition to

112
00:13:26.440 --> 00:13:33.440
scientific exploration, Pluto has inspired artistic
and literary works capturing the imagination of people

113
00:13:33.519 --> 00:13:41.360
around the world. Its distant,
mysterious nature has made it a symbol of

114
00:13:41.399 --> 00:13:48.519
the unknown and the potential for discovery. Stories, poems, and visual art

115
00:13:48.639 --> 00:13:58.679
have all drawn inspiration from Pluto,
reflecting humanities enduring fascination with this distant world.

116
00:13:58.720 --> 00:14:03.519
Pluto's journey from the US discovery to
reclassification and exploration is a microcosm of

117
00:14:03.559 --> 00:14:11.519
the broader scientific process. It illustrates
how our understanding of the universe evolves as

118
00:14:11.559 --> 00:14:18.919
we gather new data and develop new
theories. Pluto's story is a reminder that

119
00:14:20.120 --> 00:14:24.639
scientific knowledge is not static, but
constantly changing, as we push the boundaries

120
00:14:24.679 --> 00:14:33.159
of what we know. As we
look to the future, Pluto remains an

121
00:14:33.240 --> 00:14:41.519
important subject of study. The data
from New Horizons continue to provide valuable insights,

122
00:14:41.960 --> 00:14:46.960
and future missions may uncover even more
about this distant world in its place

123
00:14:46.000 --> 00:14:52.480
in the Solar System, Pluto's story
is far from over, and it will

124
00:14:52.559 --> 00:14:58.279
undoubtedly continue to play a significant role
in our quest to understand the outer reaches

125
00:14:58.279 --> 00:15:05.559
of our cosm neighborhood. In summary, Pluto's narrative is one of exploration,

126
00:15:07.120 --> 00:15:15.559
discovery, and reevaluation. From its
initial identification as the ninth planet to its

127
00:15:15.600 --> 00:15:20.799
reclassification as a dwarf planet, Pluto
has fascinated scientists and the public alike.

128
00:15:24.159 --> 00:15:30.480
The New Horizons mission's groundbreaking flyby provided
a wealth of data revealing a complex and

129
00:15:30.559 --> 00:15:39.679
dynamic world with diverse geological features and
a tenuous atmosphere. Despite its reclassification,

130
00:15:39.200 --> 00:15:46.039
Pluto remains a key object of study, offering insights into the processes that shape

131
00:15:46.080 --> 00:15:52.000
the outer Solar System. Its story
is a testament to the evolving nature of

132
00:15:52.120 --> 00:17:14.039
scientific knowledge and humanities enduring curiosity to
explore the unknown or fail