Credit & Copyright: NASA
Explanation:
One of the strangest objects in the outer Solar System was classified as a
dwarf planet last week and given the name Haumea.
This designation makes
Haumea
the fifth designated
dwarf planet
after Pluto,
Ceres,
Eris, and
Makemake.
Haumea's smooth but
oblong shape
make it extremely 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 nearly featureless
ellipsoid.
Quite possibly, however, Haumea has interesting craters and
surface features that currently remain unknown.
Originally discovered in 2003 and given the
temporary designation of
2003 EL61,
Haumea was recently renamed by the
IAU for a
Hawaiian goddess.
Haumea has two
small moons
discovered in 2005, recently renamed
Hi'iaka and
Namaka
for daughters of the goddess.
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 |
Yanvar' Fevral' Mart Aprel' Mai Iyun' Iyul' Avgust Sentyabr' Oktyabr' Noyabr' Dekabr' |
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
|
Publikacii s klyuchevymi slovami:
Solar System - solnechnaya sistema - karlikovaya planeta - dwarf planet
Publikacii so slovami: Solar System - solnechnaya sistema - karlikovaya planeta - dwarf planet | |
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