Pluto, formerly known as the tenth planet, is now regarded as a dwarf planet residing in the Kuiper Belt.

 

 

 

With an apparent magnitude of between +13 and +15 it is impossible to see Pluto with the naked eye, binoculars or anything but a large telescope although with modern telescopes and CCD cameras it is not out of the realms of possibility for the experienced amateur to study Pluto and for that reason many astronomy magazines have started to include Pluto's position in monthly tables.

 

 

 

 

 

Pluto has three known satellites, Charon (the largest), Nix and Hydra.

Charon was discovered in 1978 by astronomer James Christy.