90377 Sedna

90377 Sedna is a trans-Neptunian object, discovered by Michael Brown (Caltech), Chad Trujillo (Gemini Observatory) and David Rabinowitz (Yale University) on November 14, 2003. Its discovery was the farthest distance at which any natural object in the solar system has ever been observed. Sedna is described as a cold planetoid, perhaps as large as two-thirds the size of Pluto. 90377 Sedna - General information. Sedna was discovered during a survey conducted with the Samuel Oschin telescope at Palomar Observat ...

Including:

• 90377 Sedna - General information
• 90377 Sedna - Orbital characteristics
• 90377 Sedna - Physical characteristics
• 90377 Sedna - Classification

Read more here: » 90377 Sedna: Encyclopedia - 90377 Sedna

Sedna was discovered during a survey conducted with the Samuel Oschin telescope at Palomar Observatory near San Diego, California (USA) and was observed within days on telescopes from Chile, Spain, and the USA (Arizona, and Hawaii). NASA's orbiting Spitzer Space Telescope was also pointed toward the object, but could not detect it — putting an upper-bound on its diameter at roughly three-quarters that of Pluto. Because of its cold, distant nature, and because all other planets of the Solar system are named after (Roman and Greek) go ...

See also:

90377 Sedna, 90377 Sedna - General information, 90377 Sedna - Orbital characteristics, 90377 Sedna - Physical characteristics, 90377 Sedna - Classification

Read more here: » 90377 Sedna: Encyclopedia II - 90377 Sedna - General information

1 Ceres ([ˈsi.riz], Latin Cerēs) was the first asteroid to be discovered. It was discovered on January 1, 1801, by Giuseppe Piazzi. With a diameter of about 950 km it is by far the largest and most massive asteroid in the asteroid belt: It is over half as massive as the rest of the belt put together. 1 Ceres - Name. Ceres was originally named Ceres Ferdinandea after both the mythological figure Ceres (Roman goddess of plants and motherly ...

Including:

• 1 Ceres - Name
• 1 Ceres - Discovery
• 1 Ceres - Physical characteristics
• 1 Ceres - Observations
• 1 Ceres - Trivia
• 1 Ceres - Aspects
• 1 Ceres - External link

Read more here: » 1 Ceres: Encyclopedia - 1 Ceres

Chadwick A. "Chad" Trujillo (born November 22, 1973), is the co-discoverer of 2003 UB313, which he claims to be the Tenth Planet. Trujillo works with computer software and has examined the orbits of the numerous trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs), which is the outer area of the solar system that he specialized in. In late August, 2005, it was announced that Trujillo, along with with Michael E. Brown and David L. Rabinowitz), had discovered 2003 UB313. This was the first TNO known to be larger than the planet Pluto. ...

Including:

• Chad Trujillo - Early career
• Chad Trujillo - List of discoveries

Read more here: » Chad Trujillo: Encyclopedia - Chad Trujillo

The astronomical unit (AU or au or a.u. or sometimes ua) is a unit of distance, approximately equal to the mean distance between Earth and Sun. The currently accepted value of the AU is 149 597 870 691 ± 30 metres (about 150 million kilometres or 93 million miles). The symbol "ua" is recommended by the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures [1], but in the United States and other anglophone countries the reverse usage is more common. The International Astronomical Union recommends "au" [2] and in ...

Including:

• Astronomical unit - The distance
• Astronomical unit - History
• Astronomical unit - Examples

Read more here: » Astronomical unit: Encyclopedia - Astronomical unit

Minor planets, or planetoids are minor bodies of the Solar system orbiting the Sun (or of other planetary systems orbiting other stars) that are larger than meteoroids (the largest of which might be taken to be around 10 meters or so across) but smaller than major planets (Mercury having a diameter of about 4880 km). The term minor planet is sometimes used as a synonym for asteroid though this is technically incorrect; asteroids are one group of minor planets, a category which also includes Trans-Neptunian objects and ot ...

Including:

• Minor planet - Groups out to the orbit of Earth
• Minor planet - Groups out to the orbit of Mars
• Minor planet - The main asteroid belt
• Minor planet - Families within the main asteroid belt
• Minor planet - Other groups out to the orbit of Jupiter
• Minor planet - Groups beyond the orbit of Jupiter
• Minor planet - Quasi-satellites and horseshoe objects

Read more here: » Minor planet: Encyclopedia - Minor planet

Pluto is the ninth planet in the solar system. Discovered in 1930 and immediately classified as a planet, its status is currently under dispute. Pluto has an eccentric orbit that is highly inclined in respect to the other planets and takes it inside the orbit of Neptune. Its largest moon is Charon, discovered in 1978; two smaller moons were discovered in 2005. Pluto's astronomical symbol is a P-L monogram, ♇. This represents both the first two letters of the name Pluto and the initials of Percival Lowell ...

Including:

• Pluto - Discovery and naming
• Pluto - Orbit
• Pluto - Physical characteristics
• Pluto - Mass and size
• Pluto - Atmosphere
• Pluto - Appearance
• Pluto - Pluto's moons
• Pluto - Charon
• Pluto - The outer moons
• Pluto - Exploration of Pluto
• Pluto - The Pluto debate
• Pluto - Planet X?
• Pluto - Minor planet?
• Pluto - New discoveries
• Pluto - Pluto in popular culture

Read more here: » Pluto: Encyclopedia - Pluto

A planet is generally considered to be a relatively large mass of accreted matter in orbit around a star that is not a star itself. The name comes from the Greek term πλανήτης, planētēs, meaning "wanderer", as ancient astronomers noted how certain lights moved across the sky in relation to the other stars. Based on historical consensus, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) lists nine planets in our solar system. Since the term "planet" has no precise scientific definition, however, many astronomers contest that ...

Including:

• Planet - Planetary formation
• Planet - Within our solar system
• Planet - Accepted planets
• Planet - Other candidates
• Planet - Extrasolar planets
• Planet - Brown dwarf planets
• Planet - Interstellar planets
• Planet - Definition and classification of planets
• Planet - Suggested wide definitions
• Planet - Suggested narrow definitions
• Planet - Further classification

Read more here: » Planet: Encyclopedia - Planet

David Lincoln Rabinowitz (born 1960) is a researcher at Yale University studying the Kuiper belt and the outer solar system. Along with Michael E. Brown and Chad Trujillo he has discovered trans-Neptunian objects, among them: 90377 Sedna - possibly the first known inner Oort cloud object. 90482 Orcus 2003 UB313 - probably larger than Pluto

Read more here: » David L. Rabinowitz: Encyclopedia - David L. Rabinowitz

2003 EL61 (also written 2003 EL61), nicknamed "Santa" (non-official designation), is a very large and unusual Kuiper belt object recently discovered by Mike Brown et al. at Caltech in the United States. The nickname stems from its discovery just after Christmas, on December 28, 2004, although the Caltech team had acquired images of it starting May 6, 2004. The nickname is only temporary and will not be the official name of the object. IAU guidelines dictate that the object will be named after a c ...

Including:

• 2003 EL61 - Discovery controversy
• 2003 EL61 - Size and composition
• 2003 EL61 - Orbit
• 2003 EL61 - Moons
• 2003 EL61 - S/2005 2003 EL₆₁ 1
• 2003 EL61 - S/2005 2003 EL₆₁ 2

Read more here: » 2003 EL61: Encyclopedia - 2003 EL61

2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. It was designated the: International Year of Rice (by the United Nations) International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition (by UNESCO) 2004 World Health Day topic was Road Safety (by World Health Organization) Year of the ...

Including:

• 2004 - Events
• 2004 - January
• 2004 - February
• 2004 - March
• 2004 - April
• 2004 - May
• 2004 - June
• 2004 - July
• 2004 - August
• 2004 - September
• 2004 - October
• 2004 - November
• 2004 - December
• 2004 - Births
• 2004 - Deaths
• 2004 - January
• 2004 - February
• 2004 - March
• 2004 - April
• 2004 - May
• 2004 - June
• 2004 - July
• 2004 - August
• 2004 - September
• 2004 - October
• 2004 - November
• 2004 - December
• 2004 - Nobel Prizes

Read more here: » 2004: Encyclopedia - 2004

In ancient times, only the Sun and Moon, a few hundred stars and the most easily visible planets had names. Over the last few hundred years, the number of identified astronomical objects has risen from hundreds to over a billion, and more are discovered every year. Astronomers need to be able to assign systematic designations to unambiguously identify all of these objects, and at the same time give names to the mo ...

Including:

• Astronomical naming conventions - Names of stars
• Astronomical naming conventions - Managing the initialisms of star catalogues
• Astronomical naming conventions - Names and boundaries of constellations
• Astronomical naming conventions - Names of galaxies
• Astronomical naming conventions - Names of planets
• Astronomical naming conventions - Natural satellites of planets
• Astronomical naming conventions - Geological and geographical features on planets and satellites
• Astronomical naming conventions - Minor planets
• Astronomical naming conventions - Comets
• Astronomical naming conventions - Designations for extra-solar planets

Read more here: » Astronomical naming conventions: Encyclopedia - Astronomical naming conventions

50000 Quaoar (pronounced kwaa'·waar or kwow'·ər, Tongva [ˈqʷɑoɑr]) [1] is a Trans-Neptunian object orbiting the Sun in the Edgeworth-Kuiper belt. It was discovered on June 4, 2002 by astronomers Chad Trujillo and Michael Brown at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, California from images acquired at the Samuel Oschin Telescope at Palomar Observatory. This discovery was ...

Read more here: » 50000 Quaoar: Encyclopedia - 50000 Quaoar

Centuries: 20th century - 21st century - 22nd century Decades: 2020s 2030s 2040s 2050s 2060s - 2070s - 2080s 2090s 2100s 2110s 2120s Years: 2071 2072 2073 2074 2075 - 2076 - 2077 2078 2079 2080 2081 The year 2076 (MMLXXVI) in the Gregorian Calendar corresponds to the years 5836-5837 in the Hebrew Calendar. Events July 4 - Tricentennial of the United States - the 300th anniversary of the signing of the United States Declaration of Independence. Sedna - In ...

Read more here: » 2076: Encyclopedia - 2076

2000 CR105 is the third most distant known object in the solar system after 2003 UB313 and 90377 Sedna. It circles the sun in a highly eccentric orbit every 3175 years at an average distance of 224 astronomical units (1 A.U. being equal to the mean earth-sun distance of about 150 million kilometers). 2000 CR105 and Sedna differ from other Scattered Disc objects in that at their perihelion distances they are not within the gravitational influence of the planet Neptune. It is something of a mystery how t

Read more here: » 2000 CR105: Encyclopedia - 2000 CR105

90482 Orcus (originally known by the provisional designation 2004 DW) is a Kuiper Belt object (KBO) that was discovered by Michael Brown of Caltech, Chad Trujillo of the Gemini Observatory, and David Rabinowitz of Yale University. The discovery images of this object were acquired on February 17, 2004. Precovery images as early as November 8, 1951 were later identified. 90482 Orcus - Size and magnitude. The apparent magnitude of the object is 18.5, which is the same brightness as 50000 Quaoar. ...

Including:

• 90482 Orcus - Size and magnitude
• 90482 Orcus - Name

Read more here: » 90482 Orcus: Encyclopedia - 90482 Orcus

2003 UB313 (center) and moon (right of center). Keck Observatory. 2003 UB313 is a trans-Neptunian object (TNO) which California astronomers at Mount Palomar observatory describe as "definitely bigger" than the planet Pluto. The object has already been dubbed the tenth planet by the discoverers, NASA, and some media outlets, but it is not yet clear whether it will be widely accepted as a new planet or not. It has at least one moon. No official name for ...

Including:

• 2003 UB313 - Discovery
• 2003 UB313 - Classification
• 2003 UB313 - Name
• 2003 UB313 - Orbit
• 2003 UB313 - Size
• 2003 UB313 - Surface
• 2003 UB313 - Moon

Read more here: » 2003 UB313: Encyclopedia - 2003 UB313

Aristarchus of Samos estimated the distance to the Sun to be about 20 times the distance to the moon, whereas the true ratio is about 390. His estimate was based on the angle between the half moon and the sun, which he estimated as 87°. According to Eusebius of Caesarea in the Praeparatio Evangelica, Eratosthenes found the distance to the sun to be "σταδιων μυριαδας τετρακοσιας και οκτωκισμυριας" (literally "of stadia myriads 400 and 80000"). This has been translated either as 4,080,00 ...

See also:

Astronomical unit, Astronomical unit - The distance, Astronomical unit - History, Astronomical unit - Examples

Read more here: » Astronomical unit: Encyclopedia II - Astronomical unit - History

The scattered disk is still fairly poorly understood, although prevailing astronomical opinion suggests it was formed when Kuiper belt objects (KBOs) were "scattered" by gravitational interactions with the outer planets, principally Neptune, into highly-eccentric and -inclined orbits. While the Kuiper belt is a relatively "round" and "flat" doughnut of space extending from about 30 AU to 44 AU with its member-objects locked in autonomously circular orbits (cubewanos) or mildly-elliptical resonant orbits (plutinos and twotinos), the scattered ...

See also:

Scattered disc, Scattered disc - Formation, Scattered disc - Extended scattered disk, Scattered disc - Scattered disk objects, Scattered disc - List of Notable SDOs

Read more here: » Scattered disc: Encyclopedia II - Scattered disc - Formation

Pluto - Planet X?. The planet Pluto was originally discovered in 1930 in the course of a search for a body sufficiently massive to account for supposed anomalies in the orbits of Uranus and Neptune . Once it was found, its faintness and failure to show a visible disc cast doubt on the idea that it could be Lowell's Planet X. Lowell had made a prediction of Pluto's position in 1915 which had turned out to be fairly close to its actual position at that time; however Ernest W. Brown concluded almost immediately that ...

See also:

Pluto, Pluto - Discovery and naming, Pluto - Orbit, Pluto - Physical characteristics, Pluto - Mass and size, Pluto - Atmosphere, Pluto - Appearance, Pluto - Pluto's moons, Pluto - Charon, Pluto - The outer moons, Pluto - Exploration of Pluto, Pluto - The Pluto debate, Pluto - Planet X?, Pluto - Minor planet?, Pluto - New discoveries, Pluto - Pluto in popular culture

Read more here: » Pluto: Encyclopedia II - Pluto - The Pluto debate