More on the "10th" Planet
March 10th 2008 08:02
Astronomers have discovered an object in our solar system that is larger than Pluto. They are calling it the “10th planet”, but already that claim has been in contention.
The newly discovered planet’s size is not at issue. But the very definition of planet hood is. There is no good scientific reason to keep Pluto a planet without doing serious disservice to the remainder of the solar system. However the idea that Pluto is a planet is a cultural norm. It is enshrined in a million different ways, from plastic models depicting the solar system that include the nine planets, to the countless millions of school children who have told about the nine planets for the last 75 years. I guess the debate about Pluto’s planter status will continue. NASA effectively endorsed the idea in an official statement that referred to 2003 UB313 [Xena] as the 10th planet.
Numerous objects roughly half to three-quarters the size of Pluto have been found in recent years and I believe that they may be many more to be discovered perhaps objects bigger than Mars that have for the moment evaded detection.
This object [ 2003 UB313 Xena] has an inclination of 45 degrees to the main plane of the solar system, where most of the other planets orbit. That's why it eluded discovery until now.
This new dwarf planet is the largest object found so far in orbit around the sun since the discovery of Neptune 1846. It is larger than Pluto, discovered in 1930. Much like Pluto this planet originated from the Kuiper belt a region of icy bodies including comets that orbit beyond Neptune.
2003 UB313 now classified as a dwarf planet is the most distant object ever seen in orbit around the sun, even more distant than Sedna, the planetoid discovered almost 2 years ago. It is almost 10 billion miles from the sun and more than 3 times more distant than the next closest planet, Pluto. Due to Sedna unusual orbit it never approaches closer than 76 AU to the Sun and is currently 98 AU away. At the far end of its 11,500-year orbit, Sedna reaches a distance of 943 AU. One AU equals Earth's distance from the Sun, 92.96 million miles (149.6 million km).
2003UB313 Xena takes almost 500 years to orbit the sun. Pluto completes one orbit around the Sun every 249 years.
The newly discovered planet’s size is not at issue. But the very definition of planet hood is. There is no good scientific reason to keep Pluto a planet without doing serious disservice to the remainder of the solar system. However the idea that Pluto is a planet is a cultural norm. It is enshrined in a million different ways, from plastic models depicting the solar system that include the nine planets, to the countless millions of school children who have told about the nine planets for the last 75 years. I guess the debate about Pluto’s planter status will continue. NASA effectively endorsed the idea in an official statement that referred to 2003 UB313 [Xena] as the 10th planet.
These images, spanning 90 minutes, show 2003 UB313 (circled) in exposures taken during 90 minutes on October 21, 2003. The astronomers didn't recognise the objects motion was not seen until reimaged the area in January 2005. Samuel Oschin Telescope, Palomar Observatory
Numerous objects roughly half to three-quarters the size of Pluto have been found in recent years and I believe that they may be many more to be discovered perhaps objects bigger than Mars that have for the moment evaded detection.
A view taken by the Hubble telescope does not show much detail because of relative size of the object and the great distance involved.
Objects discovered so far
This object [ 2003 UB313 Xena] has an inclination of 45 degrees to the main plane of the solar system, where most of the other planets orbit. That's why it eluded discovery until now.
This new dwarf planet is the largest object found so far in orbit around the sun since the discovery of Neptune 1846. It is larger than Pluto, discovered in 1930. Much like Pluto this planet originated from the Kuiper belt a region of icy bodies including comets that orbit beyond Neptune.
2003 UB313 now classified as a dwarf planet is the most distant object ever seen in orbit around the sun, even more distant than Sedna, the planetoid discovered almost 2 years ago. It is almost 10 billion miles from the sun and more than 3 times more distant than the next closest planet, Pluto. Due to Sedna unusual orbit it never approaches closer than 76 AU to the Sun and is currently 98 AU away. At the far end of its 11,500-year orbit, Sedna reaches a distance of 943 AU. One AU equals Earth's distance from the Sun, 92.96 million miles (149.6 million km).
2003UB313 Xena takes almost 500 years to orbit the sun. Pluto completes one orbit around the Sun every 249 years.
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Comment by Lilla
Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
Dream Herald
This thing about Pluto not being a planet is wild. I mean I understadn the reasoning, but it has a moon, an orbit and rotation passage... and travels around the sun like the rest of us ... I say, give Pluto a chance people, stop the persecution.
Again, it's position during the 2012 alignment is another interesting anomoly as its it's recent transition into Capricorn.
We live in interesting times.
Lilla ...
Comment by CarlCan
Astro Earth
I think poor pluto got a raw deal. It will aways remain a planet to me.
The 2012 planetery alignment is intersting the Maya had some reference to 2012 in there writings.
If your interested in this topic look up Maya and 2012.
to quote from the words of another song " The times are achanging"
Cheers