Pluto and creation
The existence of a planet in the solar system beyond Neptune was predicted by Percivall Lowell and first sighted by astronomer Clyde Tombaugh. When it was discovered, Pluto was named the ninth planet in the solar system and the furthest from the sun in its orbit. Astronomers originally thought Pluto was much larger than Earth but today we know that it is only a fraction the size of Earth's moon. Pluto is currently classified as a dwarf planet by the International Astronomical Union because it has not cleared its orbit of other objects. Pluto was also once thought to be a moon of Neptune, however the discovery that Pluto had moons of its own challenged this idea. Another theory of Pluto's origin is that it was captured from outside the solar system, however creationists have explained that if Pluto had been captured it would have followed a hyperbolic path and left the solar system. Pluto's largest moon Charon is believed by evolutionists to be the product of an impact with Pluto by another object. However, creationists have noted the near circular orbit of Charon to refute the impact theory. Pluto's other four other moons also have near perfect circular orbits almost in the same plane as Pluto's equator. Evolutionists must also explain why Pluto has a rust color (likely from higher iron content) and Charon does not if they are of the same material. Charon has half the diameter of Pluto and 12 percent of the mass while its size in comparison to Pluto creates a "double-planet" orbit where each planetary body orbits each other every 6.387 days. The two planetary bodies are gravitationally locked to one another, so each keeps the same face towards the other and creates a unique system that compliments a special creation. The only spacecraft to visit Pluto is NASA’s New Horizons, which passed close by in July of 2015.
Evolutionists must also explain Pluto's strange orbit, including why Pluto does not orbit the sun in the same plane (the plane of the ecliptic) as the eight other planets do but orbits at an angle of 17 degrees to this plane. Also, Pluto's axis of rotation is not perpendicular to its orbital plane as most other planets but is tilted so that one of the poles points almost directly to the sun. Pluto also has a strongly elliptical orbit around the sun in contrast to the other planets and this orbit causes Pluto to be closer to the sun than Neptune during a portion of the orbit. Pluto's moons also rotate at different speeds and one moon rotates backwards. These unusual orbital features of Pluto and its moons contradict evolutionist ideas about planet formation, particularly the nebular hypothesis, which describes planets forming from clouds of gas and dust 4.5 billion years ago. The nebular hypothesis predicts that planets would rotate in the same direction, and therefore Pluto and its moon's orbits would violate this hypothesis. Pluto also has a thin atmosphere, and the fact that an atmosphere exists leads creationists to conclude that Pluto could not have existed for billions of years. In addition, geologic tectonic activity and a lack of craters on Pluto also support the young age of this planet and its moons. Some creationists also believe that material from Pluto and its moons could have originated from Earth after the events of the Genesis Flood ejected material into space.
Grigg, Russell. Pluto. Creation 38(3):46–49—July 2016.
Hurlbut TA, "Pluto: accidental creation," Creationism Examiner, 11 July 2015.
NASA Science Solar System Exploration. Pluto. https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/dwarf-planets/pluto/overview/.
Evolutionists must also explain Pluto's strange orbit, including why Pluto does not orbit the sun in the same plane (the plane of the ecliptic) as the eight other planets do but orbits at an angle of 17 degrees to this plane. Also, Pluto's axis of rotation is not perpendicular to its orbital plane as most other planets but is tilted so that one of the poles points almost directly to the sun. Pluto also has a strongly elliptical orbit around the sun in contrast to the other planets and this orbit causes Pluto to be closer to the sun than Neptune during a portion of the orbit. Pluto's moons also rotate at different speeds and one moon rotates backwards. These unusual orbital features of Pluto and its moons contradict evolutionist ideas about planet formation, particularly the nebular hypothesis, which describes planets forming from clouds of gas and dust 4.5 billion years ago. The nebular hypothesis predicts that planets would rotate in the same direction, and therefore Pluto and its moon's orbits would violate this hypothesis. Pluto also has a thin atmosphere, and the fact that an atmosphere exists leads creationists to conclude that Pluto could not have existed for billions of years. In addition, geologic tectonic activity and a lack of craters on Pluto also support the young age of this planet and its moons. Some creationists also believe that material from Pluto and its moons could have originated from Earth after the events of the Genesis Flood ejected material into space.
Grigg, Russell. Pluto. Creation 38(3):46–49—July 2016.
Hurlbut TA, "Pluto: accidental creation," Creationism Examiner, 11 July 2015.
NASA Science Solar System Exploration. Pluto. https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/dwarf-planets/pluto/overview/.
