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Trans-Neptunian Objects
Topic Started: Feb 3 2010, 12:29 AM (653 Views)
CJ
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A very minor case of serious brain damage

The trans-Neptunian Objects are icy rocks that occur roughly around the orbit of Neptune. They include some dwarf planets such as Pluto and Eris.

This picture shows a size comparison of some of the largest ones:

Posted Image
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Michelle
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Makemake lmao XD
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CJ
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I know. It shows that they're beginning to run out of names for these things, so they're having to invent silly ones :P .
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CJ
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Here's the most detailed view of Pluto so far:

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Michelle
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Yeah, it looks good so far, judging that we can't get any closer.

I like the name Orcus. I think it means sea monster.
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CJ
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It probably does. It always makes me think of Octopus XD
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Michelle
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Haha lol

Wow Nix and Hydra look so small!
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CJ
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They can't be any more than about 100-150km across, probably less.
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Michelle
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I know, that's my point lol
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CJ
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Pluto, Eris, Haumea and Makemake have all been officially classified as dwarf planets. I wonder when the others will be?
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Michelle
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I have no idea, aren't they mostly asteroids? Kuiper Belt is like a second Asteroid Belt.
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CJ
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Yeah, they would be. Even the Asteroid Belt contains a few objects that would meet the criteria for a 'dwarf planet' (including Ceres).
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Michelle
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Nice, it's cool to know that some asteroids are large enough to be dwarf planets.
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CJ
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Yeah. It's just a question of when the IAU will re-classify them!
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Michelle
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I know! I hope not... it'll be confusing lol
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CJ
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Well, it's confusing enough as it is to have objects that could be classed as dwarf planets, but aren't because the IAU can't be bothered yet :P !
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Michelle
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That is very annoying!
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Michelle
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Here's an artist's impression of the surface of Makemake:
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CJ
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Interesting - I don't think I've seen any artist's impressions of it before.
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Michelle
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Me neither. It's pretty... convincing. Like it's an actual photograph.
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CJ
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It is, although the Sun does look bigger on it than I would have expected.
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Michelle
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Hm... you're right. I guess the Sun is pretty big.

Here's another picture.
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CJ
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I see it refers to Makemake as "Zenn", for some reason....
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Michelle
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Hmm. Maybe it's an older picture.
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Jarkko
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Christian. Exterminator of Spammers.

Makemake is apparently from Rapanui (Easter Island, that is) mythology.
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CJ
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Interesting - I had no idea of the origin of the name. I'd assumed it was some obscure Disney character or something :P .
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Michelle
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Lol. That makes sense. Its name is cool.
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CJ
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I assume, therefore, that I've been mispronouncing it's name for years? I always pronounced it like the word 'make' two times :P .
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