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About once every 248 years, Pluto moves nearer to the sun than Neptune, and stays that way for about 20 years. This last happened between January 1979 and February 1999 and so it won't happen again until about 2227.

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15y ago
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9y ago

Pluto does not actually cross Neptune's orbit as it does not orbit in the same plane. That said, Pluto's orbit does sometimes bring it close to the sun. Pluto last crossed this distance, moving away from the sun, on February 11, 1999. It will pass closer again in the year 2278.

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15y ago

The orbit of Pluto is sometimes closer to the Sun than Neptune's orbit. But, mainly due to the angles of their orbits, they never pass through the same point in space.

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13y ago

Neptune and Pluto switch every 248 years, but they only switch for a small amount of time.

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14y ago

they will never collide due to magnetic fields

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11y ago

Because Pluto's orbit crosses into Neptune's path and Neptune crosses Pluto's path.

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16y ago

take about a year

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14y ago

2/7 of its entire orbit of the sun.

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14y ago

about 73 earth years

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Q: Why do Neptune and Pluto cross paths?
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Do Neptune and Uranus cross paths?

Neptune and Uranus do not cross paths in their orbits around the Sun. Neptune is located further from the Sun than Uranus, so their orbits do not intersect.


What two planets that sometimes cross paths are called?

The two planets that sometimes cross paths are Earth and Mars. This phenomenon occurs due to the difference in their orbital speeds and distances from the Sun.


What planet's orbit crosses the elliptical path of Pluto?

You are going for Neptune, but the orbital paths don't actually cross. Neptune and Pluto are never in danger of colliding. The eccentricity of Pluto's orbit keeps it away from Neptune's direct path even though Pluto is, for a time, closer to the sun. More importantly the two orbits are 'harmonically' related in such a way that there are exactly two orbits of Pluto for every three orbits of Neptune. This relationship guarantees that the bodies will never be close enough for a collision. Because of this harmonic relationship, some have argued that Pluto can be considered a moon of Neptune.


What planets have orbits that cross?

inner planets <<>> Pluto has a very elliptical orbit and Pluto crosses inside the orbit of Neptune during its travel. However Pluto has a highly inclined orbit as well so there is no likelihood of a collision.


What is the planet with an orbit that intersects the orbit of the dwarf planet Pluto?

The planet with an orbit that intersects the orbit of the dwarf planet Pluto is Neptune. Neptune's orbit occasionally brings it closer to the Sun than Pluto, causing their orbits to intersect.

Related questions

Do Neptune and Uranus cross paths?

Neptune and Uranus do not cross paths in their orbits around the Sun. Neptune is located further from the Sun than Uranus, so their orbits do not intersect.


What two planets that sometimes cross paths are called?

The two planets that sometimes cross paths are Earth and Mars. This phenomenon occurs due to the difference in their orbital speeds and distances from the Sun.


What planet's orbit crosses the elliptical path of Pluto?

You are going for Neptune, but the orbital paths don't actually cross. Neptune and Pluto are never in danger of colliding. The eccentricity of Pluto's orbit keeps it away from Neptune's direct path even though Pluto is, for a time, closer to the sun. More importantly the two orbits are 'harmonically' related in such a way that there are exactly two orbits of Pluto for every three orbits of Neptune. This relationship guarantees that the bodies will never be close enough for a collision. Because of this harmonic relationship, some have argued that Pluto can be considered a moon of Neptune.


What planets have orbits that cross?

inner planets <<>> Pluto has a very elliptical orbit and Pluto crosses inside the orbit of Neptune during its travel. However Pluto has a highly inclined orbit as well so there is no likelihood of a collision.


What is the closet planet to Pluto?

Neptune is the closest planet to Pluto. Although Neptune and Pluto's orbits are such that they occasionally cross, they are not in close proximity to each other.


What is the planet with an orbit that intersects the orbit of the dwarf planet Pluto?

The planet with an orbit that intersects the orbit of the dwarf planet Pluto is Neptune. Neptune's orbit occasionally brings it closer to the Sun than Pluto, causing their orbits to intersect.


When is the next year that Pluto with be closer to the sun than Neptune?

In about 2227 A.D., their orbits will cross and Pluto will be closer to the sun for 20 years. Then, the orbits will cross again and Neptune will be closer for 228 years.


Which outer planet swings inside the orbit of another planet periodically?

The orbits of Pluto and Neptune cross, so sometimes Pluto is inside Neptune's orbit.


Why won't Pluto collide with Neptune?

Pluto and Neptune occupy different orbits within our solar system, so their paths do not intersect. Additionally, the gravitational influence of Neptune helps to maintain the stability of Pluto's orbit. Therefore, the chance of a collision between Pluto and Neptune is extremely unlikely.


Does Pluto overlap Neptune?

Actually, yes it does. Pluto, because of its lopsided orbit, crosses paths and goes in front of Neptune once every 288 years. It probably is once every 288 years because Pluto orbits the Sun once after 248 years.


When was Pluto closer to the sun than Neptune?

Pluto was last closer to the Sun than Neptune between January 23, 1979, and February 11, 1999. This is due to the elliptical nature of Pluto's orbit, causing it to cross inside of Neptune's orbit for that period. Pluto will not be closer to the Sun than Neptune again until March 15, 2285.


What planet does Pluto interfere its orbit with?

Pluto's orbit interferes with Neptune's orbit due to their gravitational interactions. This causes their orbits to cross over each other at points, though they do not collide.