Beyond Pluto

   Pluto's distance from the Sun ranges from 2.8 to 4.6 billion miles, with an orbital period of 249 years. Yes, roughly three generations will go by before Pluto makes one revolution around the Sun. We're tiny, the universe is massive -- and our little solar system is probably bigger than we thought -- and I don't mean just the size of it -- I mean, there is more out there than we first thought. Pluto is not the furthest planet in our solar system. There are more -- and more will be found as instruments become better and the hunt heats up.

Ixion -- about 3.7 billion miles from the Sun, with an orbital period of about 250 years. It's about half the size of Pluto.

Quaoar -- about 4 billion miles from the Sun, with an orbital period of about 285 years. It's about two-thirds the size of Pluto.

2002 UX25 -- about 4 billion miles from the Sun, with an orbital period of about 278 years. It's about half the size of Pluto.

Varuna -- about 4 billion miles from the Sun, with an orbital period of about 283 years. It's about half the size of Pluto.

2002 TX300 -- about 4 billion miles from the Sun, with an orbital period of about 283 years. It's about half the size of Pluto.

2002 AW197 -- about 4.4 billion miles from the Sun, with an orbital period of about 327 years. It's about half the size of Pluto.

2004 DW -- about 4 billion miles from the Sun, with an orbital period of about 250 years. It's about the size of Pluto.

Sedna -- ranges from 7 to 90 billion miles from the Sun, with an orbital period of 10,500 years. It's about as large as Pluto.