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They don't. What actually happens is that Pluto's orbit... well, it doesn't actually intersect Neptune's, but on a two-dimensional plot it looks like it does. This means that for a brief period on each of its orbits around the Sun, Pluto is closer to the Sun than Neptune is.... they do not, however, "switch places."
(Also, despite what you might think if you looked at a graph, Pluto never gets anywhere near Neptune. The closest Pluto can ever get to Neptune is about 17 AU; it actually can get nearer to Uranus ... about 11 AU... than it can to Neptune. The reason for this is that Pluto is in a resonance orbit with Neptune; it makes three complete orbits for every two of Neptune's, so every time Pluto is at one of the "crossing points", Neptune is somewhere else in its orbit.)
What else can I help you with?
Is there anything strange about Pluto?
Yes. Because of its orbit Neptune and Pluto switch places every 20 years.
Does Pluto overlap Neptune?
Actually, yes it does. Pluto, because of its lopsided orbit, crosses paths and goes in front of Neptune once every 288 years. It probably is once every 288 years because Pluto orbits the Sun once after 248 years.
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.
What do astronomer's now believe about Pluto's affect on Neptune's orbit?
Astronomers now believe that Pluto's effect on Neptune's orbit is negligible and has no significant impact. Despite initial speculation, further studies have shown that Pluto's mass is too small to have a measurable effect on Neptune's orbit.
How long does it take Uranus Neptune and Pluto to orbit the sun?
It takes Uranus 84.01 earth years. Neptune 164.80. And Pluto 248.00 years.
Is there anything strange about Pluto?
Yes. Because of its orbit Neptune and Pluto switch places every 20 years.
How many years does it take for neptune and Pluto to switch places?
every 248 years. it lasts for about 20 years, and it last ended in 1999.
How often does Pluto go into Neptune's orbit?
Every 228 years.
How long it takes to obrit the Pluto?
It takes pluto 248 years to orbit the sun but sometimes it depends on neptune because they swap places so if pluto was in neptune place it would then take 220 years or something like that.
How long was Pluto in front of Neptune?
for a 20 earth year period. when Pluto gets closer to the sun than Neptune every 248 earth years.
What happens to Neptune every 248 years?
It swings past Pluto. So Neptune is the ninth planet from the sun.
Does Pluto overlap Neptune?
Actually, yes it does. Pluto, because of its lopsided orbit, crosses paths and goes in front of Neptune once every 288 years. It probably is once every 288 years because Pluto orbits the Sun once after 248 years.
Which planet orbits crosses Pluto's every 248 years?
Pluto's orbit is 248 years. Pluto has an elliptical orbit that takes it closer to the Sun than Neptune, for 20 years, out of its 248 year orbit of the Sun. So every 228 years, Pluto's orbit crosses Neptune's orbit. This last happened between 1979 and 1999.
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.
What do astronomer's now believe about Pluto's affect on Neptune's orbit?
Astronomers now believe that Pluto's effect on Neptune's orbit is negligible and has no significant impact. Despite initial speculation, further studies have shown that Pluto's mass is too small to have a measurable effect on Neptune's orbit.
When was Pluto inside of Neptune's orbit?
For 20 years, from1979 to 1999, Neptune was actually farther from the sun than Pluto.
What planet's orbit cuts across another planet's orbit?
Pluto cuts across Neptune's orbit about once every hundred years. This is because Pluto has an ovalish orbit around the sun and Neptune has a round one.
