"Tenth planet" only slightly larger than Pluto
Posted: Wed, Apr 12, 2006, 2:07 PM ET (1807 GMT)
New observations of an object that last year was unofficially proclaimed the solar system's tenth planet have revealed that the world is only slightly larger than Pluto. The object, officially known as 2003 UB313 but unofficially nicknamed "Xena", was estimated last year to be about 30 percent larger than Pluto. New observations by the Hubble Space Telescope, released Tuesday, found that 2003 UB313, with a diameter of 2,400 kilometers, is only slightly larger than Pluto, which is approximately 2,300 kilometers in diameter. The decrease in size is because the object's surface is far more reflective than previously expected, reflecting 86 percent of the incident light. That would make 2003 UB313 more reflective than any other planet or moon in the solar system except for Saturn's moon Enceladus, and may be evidence of a tenuous atmosphere that has frozen on its surface. Astronomers have yet to decide whether 2003 UB313 should be formally classified as a planet, and, if so, what its name should be.
New observations of an object that last year was unofficially proclaimed the solar system's tenth planet have revealed that the world is only slightly larger than Pluto. The object, officially known as 2003 UB313 but unofficially nicknamed "Xena", was estimated last year to be about 30 percent larger than Pluto. New observations by the Hubble Space Telescope, released Tuesday, found that 2003 UB313, with a diameter of 2,400 kilometers, is only slightly larger than Pluto, which is approximately 2,300 kilometers in diameter. The decrease in size is because the object's surface is far more reflective than previously expected, reflecting 86 percent of the incident light. That would make 2003 UB313 more reflective than any other planet or moon in the solar system except for Saturn's moon Enceladus, and may be evidence of a tenuous atmosphere that has frozen on its surface. Astronomers have yet to decide whether 2003 UB313 should be formally classified as a planet, and, if so, what its name should be.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Apex becomes billion-dollar company with $200 million Series D round
Posted: Sun, Sep 14 4:09 AM ET (0809 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Wednesday, September 17
Falcon 9 launch of Starlink satellites scheduled for Wednesday morning
KEYT-TV Santa Barbara, CA — 1:34 am ET (0534 GMT) Colorado Springs springs into action amid loss of Space Command
Washington Times — 1:34 am ET (0534 GMT) SpaceX rocket-launching license survives NEPA challenge
POLITICO — 1:30 am ET (0530 GMT) SpaceX Eyes First Starship Version 3 Launch In ’25 Or ’26
Aviation Week — 1:29 am ET (0529 GMT) Judge dismisses suit challenging SpaceX's Starship approval
Houston Chronicle — 1:28 am ET (0528 GMT) |
