DWARF PLANETS
Sci 3- ASTRONOMY
DWARF PLANETS
POSSIBLE DWARF PLANETS
Sedna- discovered on November 14, 2003
2007OR10-discovered on July 17, 2007
Quaoar-discovered on June 5, 2002
Orcus-discovered on February 17, 2004
Official dwarf planets
1. Ceres – discovered on January 1, 1801 (45 years before Neptune),
2. Pluto – discovered on February 18, 1930,.
3. Haumea – discovered on December 28, 2004.
4. Eris – discovered on January 5, 2005.
5. Makemake – discovered on March 31, 2005.
ERIS
Is the largest known dwarf planet in the solar system(slightly larger than Pluto)
First identified in January 2005 by Palomar Observatory based team led by Mike Brown
Known as the most distant known natural object in the solar system(except from some comets)
NASA initially described Eris as the 10th planet
Has only 1 moon name Dysnomia
27% more massive than Pluto
Named after the Greek goddess of discord
Originally named Xena
Accepted as a dwarf planet on September 13, 2006.
Orbital Period: 557 years
Semi-major axis: 68 AU
Diameter: 2400? Km
Temperature: 42.5 K(-230.65 degree C)
It was not until 2005 that Eris was identified as another possible planet in our solar system.
ERIS (2003 UB313)
Is the largest known dwarf planet in our solar system.
It is a little larger than Pluto. Eris is about 1491 miles (2400 Km) wide.
Observations have led scientists to believe it has frozen methane on its surface.
Eris appears gray in color.
Eris was the most distant member of our solar system.
It is 3 times farther out than Pluto. One trip around the Sun takes 557 Earth years for Eris.
It is 3 times farther out than Pluto. One trip around the Sun takes 557 Earth years for Eris.
HAUMEA
Discovered in 2004 by Mike Brown at CalTech
Discovery first announced by a Spanish team …BUT!
They stole the data
Accepted as a dwarf planet on September 17, 2008.
Spins very fast
A rotation in 4 hours
This rotation causes it to deform
Formed into football shape
Orbital Period: 285 years
Diameter: ~1400Km
Semi-major axis: 43.1 AU
DWARF PLANETS
POSSIBLE DWARF PLANETS
Sedna- discovered on November 14, 2003
2007OR10-discovered on July 17, 2007
Quaoar-discovered on June 5, 2002
Orcus-discovered on February 17, 2004
Official dwarf planets
1. Ceres – discovered on January 1, 1801 (45 years before Neptune),
2. Pluto – discovered on February 18, 1930,.
3. Haumea – discovered on December 28, 2004.
4. Eris – discovered on January 5, 2005.
5. Makemake – discovered on March 31, 2005.
ERIS
Is the largest known dwarf planet in the solar system(slightly larger than Pluto)
First identified in January 2005 by Palomar Observatory based team led by Mike Brown
Known as the most distant known natural object in the solar system(except from some comets)
NASA initially described Eris as the 10th planet
Has only 1 moon name Dysnomia
27% more massive than Pluto
Named after the Greek goddess of discord
Originally named Xena
Accepted as a dwarf planet on September 13, 2006.
Orbital Period: 557 years
Semi-major axis: 68 AU
Diameter: 2400? Km
Temperature: 42.5 K(-230.65 degree C)
It was not until 2005 that Eris was identified as another possible planet in our solar system.
ERIS (2003 UB313)
Is the largest known dwarf planet in our solar system.
It is a little larger than Pluto. Eris is about 1491 miles (2400 Km) wide.
Observations have led scientists to believe it has frozen methane on its surface.
Eris appears gray in color.
Eris was the most distant member of our solar system.
It is 3 times farther out than Pluto. One trip around the Sun takes 557 Earth years for Eris.
It is 3 times farther out than Pluto. One trip around the Sun takes 557 Earth years for Eris.
HAUMEA
Discovered in 2004 by Mike Brown at CalTech
Discovery first announced by a Spanish team …BUT!
They stole the data
Accepted as a dwarf planet on September 17, 2008.
Spins very fast
A rotation in 4 hours
This rotation causes it to deform
Formed into football shape
Orbital Period: 285 years
Diameter: ~1400Km
Semi-major axis: 43.1 AU