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Credit & Copyright: Instituto de AstrofÌsica de AndalucÌa
Explanation:
One of the strangest objects in the outer Solar System has recently been found to
have a ring.
The object, named
Haumea, is
the fifth designated
dwarf planet
after Pluto,
Ceres,
Eris, and
Makemake.
Haumea's
oblong shape
makes it quite unusual.
Along one direction,
Haumea is significantly longer than Pluto, while in another direction
Haumea has an extent very similar to Pluto, while in the
third direction is much smaller.
Haumea's orbit sometimes brings it closer to the
Sun than
Pluto,
but usually
Haumea is further away.
Illustrated above, an artist visualizes Haumea as a cratered
ellipsoid surrounded by a uniform
ring.
Originally discovered in 2003 and given the temporary designation of 2003 EL61,
Haumea was renamed in 2008 by the
IAU for a
Hawaiian goddess.
Besides the
ring discovered
this year, Haumea has two
small moons
discovered in 2005, named
Hi'iaka and
Namaka
for daughters of the goddess.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: Solar System - dwarf planet
Publications with words: Solar System - dwarf planet
See also: