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  • Pluto & Neptune: Understanding Planetary Orbits and Distance from the Sun
    This is a bit of a tricky question, as it relies on a common misconception. Neptune was never the farthest planet from the Sun, regardless of Pluto's planetary status.

    Here's why:

    * Pluto's orbit is highly eccentric: This means its path around the Sun is not a perfect circle, but an elongated ellipse.

    * Pluto's orbit crosses Neptune's: Due to this eccentric orbit, Pluto spends about 20 years out of its 248-year orbital period farther from the Sun than Neptune.

    Therefore, Neptune is always considered the eighth planet from the Sun, even when Pluto is further out in its orbit.

    The confusion might arise from people incorrectly assuming that the planets maintain a strict order based on their distance from the Sun at all times.

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