Here's why:
* Pluto's orbit is inclined: It's tilted at about 17 degrees compared to the plane of the solar system (the ecliptic), where most planets orbit.
* Pluto's orbit is eccentric: This means it's not a perfect circle but a more elongated oval.
* Resonance: While Pluto's orbit is highly elliptical, it is in a 3:2 orbital resonance with Neptune. This means for every three orbits Pluto makes around the Sun, Neptune makes two. This resonance helps to keep the two planets from ever colliding.
However, due to Pluto's eccentric orbit, there are times when Pluto is actually closer to the Sun than Neptune. For example, between 1979 and 1999, Pluto was closer to the Sun than Neptune. This is a temporary phenomenon and doesn't mean the orbits actually overlap.
So, while they do come close, the orbits of Pluto and Neptune never actually intersect.
