Introduction to Solar System 5

7/28/2019 Introduction to Solar System 5

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18-Apr-13

IESO

Introduction to Solar System

Part 5


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Dwarf Planets are objects that orbit the sun.

To be considered a Dwarf planet the object must have

enough mass to assume a round shape.

Dwarf Planets are classified as such when they havent Cleared their neighborhoods or become

gravitationally powerful.

Must be very small


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Diameter: 1,430 micompared to Earths 7,926mi.

Distance from sun: about

49.3 (AU) Length of year: 90,553

days, each day is about153 hours and 18 min.

Temperature: -387F to -369F.


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Discovered in 1930 by Clyde Tombaugh. Orbits in a disk-like zone called the Kuniper belt which

consists of mostly icy worlds and objects.

Its surface is composed of frozen nitrogen, methane, and

carbon monoxide.

Three moons orbit Pluto: Hydra, Nix, and Charon.

In 2006 the International Astronomical Union classified Pluto

as the first Dwarf planet.

During its initial discovery Pluto was classified a planet at the

Lowell observatory located in Flagstaff, AZ.


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Diameter: 580 mi Distance from Sun: 2.8

(AU)

Length of year: 4.60

Earth years

Actually not a Planet, itis an Asteroid but

because it is round they

classify it as a Dwarfplanet.


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Discovered in 1801 by a Sicilian astronomer GiuseppePiazzi.

Might have liquid water underneath its crust.

Located in the space between Mars and Jupiter. Joined the Dwarf planet name in 2006 along with Pluto.


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Diameter: 1491 mi

Distance from Sun: 67.69

(AU)

Length of year: 557Earth years

Temperature: -359F to -

406 F


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First seen in 2003 and then later confirmed in 2005. Larger than Pluto so consideration was given to making it

the tenth planet but ultimately it was given the Dwarfplanet status.

Has one moon, Dsynomia which was used to measure thesize of Eris.

It lies beyond the Kuniper belt.

Its so cold and far from the sun that its atmosphere

collapses and freezes on the surface.


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Its diameter is about 2/3the size of Pluto.

Distance from the Sun:

52 (AU)

Length of year: 309

Earth years

Temperature:

-242.2C


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Also located in Kuniper belt. Was first observed in 2005 at the Palomar Observatory.

Given title of Dwarf planet in 2008.

Surface is covered with frozen nitrogen, ethane, andmethane.

Its reddish color comes from Tholins which are made

when ultra-violet light interacts with methane and

ethane.


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It is about the same sizeas Pluto

Length of Year: 285

Earth years

Distance from Sun: 43.31

Has two moons: Hiaka

and Namaka


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Also located in the Kuniper belt. Its odd shape comes from the speed at which it spins. It

is believed that long ago it was impacted by another

object which set it on its course.

It was discovered in 2003 at the Sierra Nevada

Observatory.

Made of rock but has a layer of ice on the outside.

Introduction to Solar System 5

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