Math and Distance: How Far is Pluto from Earth?

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SUMMARY

Pluto is located a minimum of 2.7 billion miles from Earth, making it an incredibly distant object in our solar system. A hypothetical non-stop flight to Pluto at 400 mph would take approximately 770 years. The discussion highlights the significant advancements in astronomy since the 1930s, when Pluto was first detected, and contrasts this with the current lack of funding for space exploration. The conversation emphasizes the need for continued investment in scientific endeavors rather than solely profit-driven projects.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of astronomical distances and units (miles, light-years)
  • Basic knowledge of space travel speeds (e.g., airliner speeds)
  • Familiarity with historical milestones in space exploration (e.g., lunar landing, Hubble Space Telescope)
  • Awareness of funding dynamics in scientific research and exploration
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the historical context of Pluto's discovery in the 1930s
  • Explore the technological advancements in space travel since the Apollo missions
  • Investigate current funding models for space exploration initiatives
  • Learn about unmanned space missions and their planning processes
USEFUL FOR

Astronomy enthusiasts, space exploration advocates, educators, and anyone interested in the historical and current challenges of space travel and funding for scientific research.

Holocene
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It's funny how simple math can help you visualize just how far away an object is.

Pluto is, at minimum, 2,700,000,000 (2.7 Billion) miles away from Earth.

Traveling at "airliner" speeds, say 400mph, a non-stop flight to Pluto would take:

6,750,000 hours en route, or...

281,250 days en route, or...

770 years en route!

I think it's pretty amazing, that in the 1930's, we were able to detect an object only 2/3 the size of our moon at this kind of distance.
 
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It is indeed! People who made those type of advances were respected world wide and celebrated for their achievements.
Worryingly nowadays is the current lack of funding and support for advancements. In 1930 it would take weeks to get to the far reaches of the world. by 1969 man had reached the moon and commercial flights were more viable. In the last 39 years, even with all the advances in technology, we still rely on the same principles and haven't even been back to the moon in 35 years!
Back then, advancement was worth the money, now its more will it make me a profit or not :(
 
Not sure what the lunar landing has to do with the enormanous distances seperating the various bodies of the solar system. Of course these distances are tiny compared to galactic distances.

I guess instead of putting Hubble into orbit we should have made another trip to the moon. :rolleyes:
 
Sorry should have made it more clear :P Was more the point they were able to spot Pluto in the 1930's, big news then but something similar would get less news time that some celebrity wedding, and would have to cost less too. Ofc we should have Hubble, but we should be doing both but people don't want to know now unless there's a profit in it.
 
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If the flight to Pluto was unmanned and no adjustments were possible once the launch button was pressed, what would you be aiming at and what would be the chances of success ?
 

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