0
Plutos orbit is highly eccentric - during one rotation of the sun its distance from the sun can vary considerably. For 20 years of each of its orbit - a small fraction, it is closer to the sun than Neptune, which has much more of a regular orbit. Neptune is now the furthest planet again as of 2006. This time its for another reason - Pluto is no longer classed as a planet, but is instead a Dwarf Planet.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
How many years Neptune became the farthest planet in the solar system?
Neptune has always been the farthest planet, but we didn't always know that. On August 24, 2006, when the International Astronomical Union (IAU) defined what it means to be a "planet", Neptune earned it's badge as the most distant (from the sun) planet in our solar system. Prior to that, when Pluto was referred to as a planet, it last crossed inside of Neptune's orbit on February 7, 1979 leaving Neptune as the most distant planet until February 11, 1999. Pluto's orbit crosses inside of Neptune's orbit for 20 years out of every 248.
What planet is called the outermost planet?
With Pluto now regarded as a dwarf planet, the answer is Neptune. There are times when Pluto's orbit takes it inside Neptune for about 20 years at a time out of its 248 year orbit, as it did from 1979 to 1999. So even when Pluto was considered a planet, it wasn't always the furthest away from the Sun.
Is Neptune ever the furthest planet from the sun?
Between its discovery on February 18, 1930 by astronomer Clyde Tombaugh (1906 - 1997), and the proposition of a new definition of the word "planet" in August 2006, there were nine discovered planets in the solar system. This included Pluto, which, until the 2006 re-definition, was the ninth discovered planet. However, between February 7, 1979 and February 11, 1999, the furthest planet from the sun was, in fact, Neptune, as Pluto's orbit had gone inside that of Neptune. The same pattern has occurred twice in recorded planetary history since the 15th Century, and on both occasions has lasted a different amount of time, which implies Pluto has a more eccentric orbit than the other bodies which orbit the sun. The first recorded time has been calculated as being between April 30, 1483 and July 23, 1503, roughly the same amount of time as the spell between 1979 and 1999. However, following this, the next time it occurred was between July 11, 1735 and September 15, 1749, a spell of only fourteen years. However, since the astronomical re-definition of the word "planet", there have been only eight planets in the solar system, of which Pluto is not one, and of which Neptune is now always the furthest away.
Is Pluto sometimes closer to the Sun than Neptune?
Yes, Pluto is closer to the Sun than Neptune for a ~20 year period every 228 years. The last time it was closer to the Sun than Neptune was 1979. This happens because Pluto has an eccentric orbit that is also highly inclined, Pluto's size\mass is not directly involved in this process in any way.
Between 1979 and 1999 Pluto was closer to the sun then what planet?
t can change it isn't always exatly the same at least I don't think so
When Pluto was considered a planet why was neptune the farthest planet from the sun from 1979 to 1999?
In 1999 Pluto was considered to be a planet. From 1979 to 1999, Neptune was further from the Sun than Pluto, because of Pluto's eccentric orbit.
What planet was to the farthest from the sun until 1999?
Pluto used to be the outermost planet, except that sometimes it became Neptune because Pluto's elliptical orbit is far from circular. From 1979 to 1999 Neptune was the farthest planet from the Sun and remains the farthest from the Sun today, because Pluto us no longer defined as a planet.
Why did neptune become the second farthest planet from 1979 to 1999?
Pluto was one of the nine recognised planets back then, yet for a time it was the 8th furthest planet, since is comes inside Neptunes orbit for 20 years each orbit.
How many years Neptune became the farthest planet in the solar system?
Neptune has always been the farthest planet, but we didn't always know that. On August 24, 2006, when the International Astronomical Union (IAU) defined what it means to be a "planet", Neptune earned it's badge as the most distant (from the sun) planet in our solar system. Prior to that, when Pluto was referred to as a planet, it last crossed inside of Neptune's orbit on February 7, 1979 leaving Neptune as the most distant planet until February 11, 1999. Pluto's orbit crosses inside of Neptune's orbit for 20 years out of every 248.
What planet was farthest from the sun until 1999?
The planet that was farthest from the Sun from February 7, 1979 until February 11, 1999 was Uranus. Though Pluto was considered the outermost planet in the solar system since its discovery, its highly elliptical orbit sometimes brought it closer to the Sun than Uranus.
What is the farthest known planet in the universe from earth?
Neptune, the farthest planet away from earth in our solar system is 4.3 billion kilometers from earth. The planet OGLE-05-390L b orbits a star about 6000 parsecs... about 20000 light years from earth. They're finding planets around other stars almost weekly... So that may change. The farthest (galaxy) we know of is a quasar whose light has been traveling for 12 billion years. That object is now about 27 billion light years from us. Since the universe is about 15 billion years old... That's as far as we can see back in time. The light from anything much further away wouldn't have had time to get to us.
What planet is called the outermost planet?
With Pluto now regarded as a dwarf planet, the answer is Neptune. There are times when Pluto's orbit takes it inside Neptune for about 20 years at a time out of its 248 year orbit, as it did from 1979 to 1999. So even when Pluto was considered a planet, it wasn't always the furthest away from the Sun.
What was the eighth planet between 1979-1999?
The eighth planet during those years was Pluto. Its orbit crosses that of the planet Neptune. However, Pluto is now no longer considered to be a planet.
Is Neptune ever the furthest planet from the sun?
Between its discovery on February 18, 1930 by astronomer Clyde Tombaugh (1906 - 1997), and the proposition of a new definition of the word "planet" in August 2006, there were nine discovered planets in the solar system. This included Pluto, which, until the 2006 re-definition, was the ninth discovered planet. However, between February 7, 1979 and February 11, 1999, the furthest planet from the sun was, in fact, Neptune, as Pluto's orbit had gone inside that of Neptune. The same pattern has occurred twice in recorded planetary history since the 15th Century, and on both occasions has lasted a different amount of time, which implies Pluto has a more eccentric orbit than the other bodies which orbit the sun. The first recorded time has been calculated as being between April 30, 1483 and July 23, 1503, roughly the same amount of time as the spell between 1979 and 1999. However, following this, the next time it occurred was between July 11, 1735 and September 15, 1749, a spell of only fourteen years. However, since the astronomical re-definition of the word "planet", there have been only eight planets in the solar system, of which Pluto is not one, and of which Neptune is now always the furthest away.
Is Pluto sometimes closer to the Sun than Neptune?
Yes, Pluto is closer to the Sun than Neptune for a ~20 year period every 228 years. The last time it was closer to the Sun than Neptune was 1979. This happens because Pluto has an eccentric orbit that is also highly inclined, Pluto's size\mass is not directly involved in this process in any way.
Between 1979 and 1999 Pluto was closer to the sun then what planet?
t can change it isn't always exatly the same at least I don't think so
From 1979 to 1999 Pluto was closer to the sun than?
Neptune
