SMRTR Science & EngineeringSep 21, 2025Live Science

Why does Pluto have such a weird orbit?

SMRTR summary

Pluto's highly eccentric and tilted orbit differs significantly from our solar system's planets, resembling other Kuiper Belt objects instead. This unusual orbit likely resulted from Neptune's outward migration, which created a gravitational resonance that "captured" Pluto, keeping it in a stable 3:2 orbital relationship with Neptune despite its odd path. Pluto's orbital peculiarities - including its 0.25 eccentricity and 17.4-degree tilt - are further stabilized by interactions with Jupiter and Uranus, preventing chaotic movement.

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