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imported>RobiH (Dwarf Planet candidate) |
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http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/56753main_discovery-500.jpg |
http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/56753main_discovery-500.jpg |
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This is a [[Zwergplanet|Dwarf Planet]] candidate. |
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What's bigger than an [[asteroid]], smaller than a [[planet]], [[red]] all over and far, far away? The answer -- a mysterious planet-like body [[orbit]]ing our [[Sun]] -- has been discovered by [[NASA]]-funded researchers led by an astronomer at the [[California Institute of Technology]], Pasadena, Calif. |
What's bigger than an [[asteroid]], smaller than a [[planet]], [[red]] all over and far, far away? The answer -- a mysterious planet-like body [[orbit]]ing our [[Sun]] -- has been discovered by [[NASA]]-funded researchers led by an astronomer at the [[California Institute of Technology]], Pasadena, Calif. |
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The object is three times farther away from Earth than Pluto |
The object is three times farther away from Earth than Pluto. |
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"The Sun appears so small from that distance that you could completely block it out with the head of a pin," said Dr. Mike Brown, Caltech associate professor of planetary astronomy and leader of the research team. The object, unofficially named "Sedna," is 13 billion kilometers (8 billion miles) away from Earth. |
"The Sun appears so small from that distance that you could completely block it out with the head of a pin," said Dr. Mike Brown, Caltech associate professor of planetary astronomy and leader of the research team. The object, unofficially named "Sedna," is 13 billion kilometers (8 billion miles) away from Earth. |
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Other notable features of Sedna include its size and reddish [[color]]; it is the second reddest object in the [[solar system]], after [[Mars]]. At an estimated size of three-fourths the size of [[Pluto]], it |
Other notable features of Sedna include its size and reddish [[color]]; it is the second reddest object in the [[solar system]], after [[Mars]]. At an estimated size of three-fourths the size of [[Pluto]]. Until the discovery of [[Planet Eris|Eris]] in 2003, it was likely the largest object found in the [[solar system]] since [[Pluto]] was discovered in 1930. |
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Sedna lies extremely far from the [[Sun]], in the coldest known region of our [[solar system]], where the temperature never rises above minus 240 degrees [[Celsius]] (minus 400 [[Fahrenheit]]). |
Sedna lies extremely far from the [[Sun]], in the coldest known region of our [[solar system]], where the temperature never rises above minus 240 degrees [[Celsius]] (minus 400 [[Fahrenheit]]). |
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The [[planetoid]] is usually even colder, because it approaches the [[Sun]] this closely only briefly during its 10,500 year orbit around the Sun. At its most distant, "Sedna" is 130 billion kilometers (84 billion miles) from the Sun. That is 900 times [[Earth]]'s distance from the Sun. |
The [[planetoid]] is usually even colder, because it approaches the [[Sun]] this closely only briefly during its 10,500 year orbit around the Sun. At its most distant, "Sedna" is 130 billion kilometers (84 billion miles) from the Sun. That is 900 times [[Earth]]'s distance from the Sun. |
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==Also see== |
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*[[Planet Eris]] |
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*[[Quaoar]] |
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*[[Solar System]] |
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==External links== |
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http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/56755main_sedna-comp-330-264.jpg |
http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/56755main_sedna-comp-330-264.jpg |
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* http://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/solarsystem/planet_like_body.html |
* http://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/solarsystem/planet_like_body.html |
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--> also see [[Quaoar]],[[10th planet]] |
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[[Category:Astronomy]] |
[[Category:Astronomy]] |
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Latest revision as of 14:01, 30 November 2008
http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/56753main_discovery-500.jpg
This is a Dwarf Planet candidate.
What's bigger than an asteroid, smaller than a planet, red all over and far, far away? The answer -- a mysterious planet-like body orbiting our Sun -- has been discovered by NASA-funded researchers led by an astronomer at the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, Calif.
The object is three times farther away from Earth than Pluto.
"The Sun appears so small from that distance that you could completely block it out with the head of a pin," said Dr. Mike Brown, Caltech associate professor of planetary astronomy and leader of the research team. The object, unofficially named "Sedna," is 13 billion kilometers (8 billion miles) away from Earth.
Other notable features of Sedna include its size and reddish color; it is the second reddest object in the solar system, after Mars. At an estimated size of three-fourths the size of Pluto. Until the discovery of Eris in 2003, it was likely the largest object found in the solar system since Pluto was discovered in 1930.
Sedna lies extremely far from the Sun, in the coldest known region of our solar system, where the temperature never rises above minus 240 degrees Celsius (minus 400 Fahrenheit).
The planetoid is usually even colder, because it approaches the Sun this closely only briefly during its 10,500 year orbit around the Sun. At its most distant, "Sedna" is 130 billion kilometers (84 billion miles) from the Sun. That is 900 times Earth's distance from the Sun.
Also see[edit]
External links[edit]
http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/56755main_sedna-comp-330-264.jpg
