apparent size: 0.08 seconds
apparent magnitude: 13.7
(i.e., it is at the limit of detection in an 8 inch (200 mm) telescope).
All planet co-ordinates and observing notes (includes a "finder chart" for Pluto)
Pluto - Charon
Pluto isn't of much interest using amateur telescope (except for those who want to do "the very difficult" and find it)!! [I've seen it two or three times in my life... I think my son and I saw it in April 2000, but possibly we were looking at one of the many 14th magnitude stars which lie very close to its current position...]
Pluto as seen with a 10 inch (250 mm) telescope:
apparent size: 0.08 seconds
apparent magnitude: 13.7
(i.e., it is at the limit of detection in an 8 inch (200 mm) telescope).
All planet co-ordinates and observing notes (includes a "finder chart" for Pluto)
Pluto and its moon / companion, Charon, from the Hubble Space Telescope:
Another view from the Hubble Space Telescope
Pluto, Charon, and USA Comparison
This image shows the approximate size of Pluto and Charon by overlaying them on an Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer (AVHRR) image of the United States of America. Pluto is about 2274 kilometers (1410 miles) in diameter and Charon 1172 kilometers (727 miles) in diameter. The image of Pluto is based upon Hubble observations taken of Pluto in June and July of 1994. The Charon image is based upon photometric measurements acquired by Marc Buie of Lowell Observatory. This image is Copyright © 1998 by Calvin J. Hamilton. Any commercial/for-profit use of this image needs to be addressed to Calvin J. Hamilton.
Written by Stephen R. Kessell
Updated 27 January, 2001
