Final answer:
Pluto's orbit is significantly more eccentric and inclined compared to the other planets, leading to its classification as a dwarf planet. It has a unique composition and surface features that were uncovered in greater detail by the New Horizons mission. Differences in mass, orbit, and physical characteristics distinguish Pluto from both terrestrial and giant planets.
Step-by-step explanation:
The orbital characteristics of Pluto are distinctive and differ greatly from those of the other planets in our solar system. Pluto's orbit is both more eccentric and more inclined compared to the ecliptic plane than those of the major planets. The inclination of Pluto's orbit is about 17° relative to the ecliptic. In addition to its unusual orbit, Pluto's mass and size also do not conform to what one would expect from a classical planet, which eventually led to its reclassification as a dwarf planet.
After the discovery of Pluto's moon Charon, astronomers were able to determine Pluto's mass more accurately and discovered that it was much less than the mass of Earth. Furthermore, discoveries of trans-Neptunian objects similar in size to Pluto, such as Eris and Makemake, indicated that Pluto was part of a new classification of objects within the solar system.
The measurements from the New Horizons spacecraft, which flew past Pluto in 2015, provided details about Pluto's surface. The images revealed large bright regions, suspected to be a mixture of rocky materials and water ice. The probe's data helped understand not only Pluto's composition but also its unusual orbital characteristics compared to the terrestrial planets.