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On This Date in 2005: The Dwarf Planet Eris Was Discovered
January 4, 2024 at 04:05 PM EST
By WeatherBug Meteorologist, Mark Paquette
Eris is a dwarf planet located in the scattered disc, a distant region of our solar system.
Here are some key facts about Eris:
Discovery: Eris was discovered on this date in 2005, by a team led by astronomer Mike Brown at the Palomar Observatory in California. Its discovery was a significant event because it played a role in the reclassification of Pluto and other objects in the solar system.
Size and Composition: Eris is about 2,326 kilometers (1,445 miles) in diameter, making it slightly smaller than Pluto. It is composed mainly of rock and ice. Its surface is likely covered in a layer of frozen methane and nitrogen.
Orbit and Distance: Eris has a highly elliptical orbit, and it takes about 557 Earth years to complete one orbit around the Sun. Its average distance from the Sun is approximately 10 billion miles (about 15.5 billion kilometers), which is roughly three times farther than Pluto's average distance.
Moon: Eris has one known moon, Dysnomia, which was discovered in 2005 by the same team that discovered Eris. Dysnomia is much smaller than Eris, with a diameter estimated to be about 150 kilometers (93 miles).
Dwarf Planet Status: Eris is considered a dwarf planet, a classification that was officially introduced by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in 2006. The debate and subsequent reclassification of Pluto led to the establishment of criteria for what constitutes a planet, and Pluto and Eris did not meet these criteria.
Name: Eris is named after the Greek goddess of strife and discord. Its moon, Dysnomia, is named after the daughter of Eris and the spirit of lawlessness.
Surface and Atmosphere: Due to its distance and small size, detailed observations of Eris are challenging. However, astronomers believe that its surface is covered in a thin layer of frozen gases. The atmosphere, if present, would likely be very thin.
Scientific Interest: Studying Eris and other objects in the scattered disc provides valuable insights into the early history of the solar system. These distant bodies are remnants from the early stages of planetary formation and can help scientists understand the conditions and processes that led to the development of our solar system.
Eris remains one of the many fascinating objects in the outer reaches of our solar system, and ongoing research and observations contribute to our understanding of these distant and mysterious bodies.
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Image courtesy of Pexels from Pixabay.com
Here are some key facts about Eris:
Discovery: Eris was discovered on this date in 2005, by a team led by astronomer Mike Brown at the Palomar Observatory in California. Its discovery was a significant event because it played a role in the reclassification of Pluto and other objects in the solar system.
Size and Composition: Eris is about 2,326 kilometers (1,445 miles) in diameter, making it slightly smaller than Pluto. It is composed mainly of rock and ice. Its surface is likely covered in a layer of frozen methane and nitrogen.
Orbit and Distance: Eris has a highly elliptical orbit, and it takes about 557 Earth years to complete one orbit around the Sun. Its average distance from the Sun is approximately 10 billion miles (about 15.5 billion kilometers), which is roughly three times farther than Pluto's average distance.
Moon: Eris has one known moon, Dysnomia, which was discovered in 2005 by the same team that discovered Eris. Dysnomia is much smaller than Eris, with a diameter estimated to be about 150 kilometers (93 miles).
Dwarf Planet Status: Eris is considered a dwarf planet, a classification that was officially introduced by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in 2006. The debate and subsequent reclassification of Pluto led to the establishment of criteria for what constitutes a planet, and Pluto and Eris did not meet these criteria.
Name: Eris is named after the Greek goddess of strife and discord. Its moon, Dysnomia, is named after the daughter of Eris and the spirit of lawlessness.
Surface and Atmosphere: Due to its distance and small size, detailed observations of Eris are challenging. However, astronomers believe that its surface is covered in a thin layer of frozen gases. The atmosphere, if present, would likely be very thin.
Scientific Interest: Studying Eris and other objects in the scattered disc provides valuable insights into the early history of the solar system. These distant bodies are remnants from the early stages of planetary formation and can help scientists understand the conditions and processes that led to the development of our solar system.
Eris remains one of the many fascinating objects in the outer reaches of our solar system, and ongoing research and observations contribute to our understanding of these distant and mysterious bodies.
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Image courtesy of Pexels from Pixabay.com