Pluto Reclaims Title as Ninth Planet
News story originally written on February 11, 1999

On February 11th, Pluto will become the ninth planet again. Before then, Neptune was the farthest planet from the Sun. Scientists estimate that the two planets will cross orbits just after 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

Pluto has an unusual orbit. Its orbit takes it closer to the Sun than Neptune for 20 years. Pluto has been the eighth planet since February 7th, 1979. Now it will be the ninth planet for 228 more years.

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