New Dwarf Planet Discovered Far Beyond Pluto's Orbit

space.com ^ | 07/11/2016

[BenLurkin]

Pluto isn't quite as lonely as scientists had thought.

Astronomers have discovered another dwarf planet in the Kuiper Belt, the ring of icy objects beyond Neptune. But this newfound world, dubbed 2015 RR245, is much more distant than Pluto, orbiting the sun once every 700 Earth years, scientists said. (Pluto completes one lap around the sun every 248 Earth years.)

"The icy worlds beyond Neptune trace how the giant planets formed and then moved out from the sun," discovery team member Michele Bannister, of the University of Victoria in British Columbia, said in a statement. "They let us piece together the history of our solar system."

...

The exact size of 2015 RR245 is not yet known, but the researchers think it's about 435 miles (700 kilometers) wide. Pluto is the largest resident of the Kuiper Belt, with a diameter of 1,474 miles (2,371 km).

The research team first spotted 2015 RR245 in February of this year, while poring over images that the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope in Hawaii took in September 2015 as part of the ongoing Outer Solar System Origins Survey (OSSOS).

"There it was on the screen — this dot of light moving so slowly that it had to be at least twice as far as Neptune from the sun," Bannister said.

[NoCmpromiz]

My Grandmother had the rubber tree plant. I don’t know what its disposition was, but I have some assorted plants from her outdoor flower beds (via my Sister - the one that is 29 - rescued them before Grandma’s house was sold.. ;-)

My Aunt had a humongous Christmas cactus that she ‘inherited’ from her Mother my other Grandmother when she died. I assume one of my Cousins now has it if it is still surviving.

But Sinatra didn’t record a song about a zygocactus..

[Monkey Face]

Evening, Moosie!

I’m glad to know you’re safe! :o])

[moose07]

Evening Face.
Network is slow at the moment,will try to post a pic or two tomorrow.
G’Night all :)

[Tax-chick]

Howya! My father and uncle went to the Ancient City of York. I had a book they brought back.

[Tax-chick]

Hope it worked out for you ;-).

[moose07]

The River Ouse through York City.

Stone Gate.

York Minster.

Clifford's Tower.

[Tax-chick]

Great pictures, and it looks like you have lovely weather for it!

[Tax-chick]

[Covenantor]

Good morning....

NASA budget cuts have reduced Command and Control staff and equipment substantially.

Houston Control: "Green light for Lunar lift-off, say again, Green Light now!

[Monkey Face]

I saved them all, and will soon have to transfer all to the T3 Slave.

Thanks! They are all beautiful!

[Monkey Face]

What a forlorn looking little floof ball. Just makes you want to squee!

[Monkey Face]

LOL! Good morning to you, as well! Great pic!

[Covenantor]

Looks to be in your neck of the woods or nearby....

from Louisiana...

[Monkey Face]

Nope, not me. My son and his family went To Louisiana this weekend (3rd in a row) to help the flood victims, but I’m still in the middle of the Mojave Desert, high and dry.

[Tax-chick]

It’s nice that they know where the moon is, at least.

[Monkey Face]

73 degrees! As soon as the sun is up, I will raise the flag, pledge my allegiance, and start my day with a prayer.

[null and void]

Always sage (and parsley) advice!

[Monkey Face]

Aaaaahh yer up in the night, Nully!

[null and void]

Yeah.

And I rilly rilly rilly need my beauty sleep.

[Tax-chick]

Anyone who doesn’t want to hug a kitten has problems!