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.

[moose07]

[Tax-chick]

Wow, how helpful of Greg! (/s) I wonder what he imagined he would gain by telling you that.

[Tax-chick]

Sure is a big, solid place.

[moose07]

About 1100 feet from end to end.
The wiki page is actually interesting. For a change. :)
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurst_Castle

[NoCmpromiz]

Have a cat that lays like that. Except he’s all black. Other than the white blob on his chest.

If I find I have a photo of him in that pose I’ll (eventually) post it.. ;-)

[NicknamedBob]

I seem to get volunteered for a lot of stuff when I’m out doing other things.

[Covenantor]

Actually, do a search for British crayfish recipes and you’ll find quite a few nice ones.

[Tax-chick]

It’s just a bridge that can be carried in a backpack - easy peasy!

[NicknamedBob]

That I can do. The hard thing to know is how long it has to span.

[Tax-chick]

Looked like a dozen yards or so.

[Silentgypsy]

Wow!

[NicknamedBob]

That would be a heavy backpack.

On the plus side, I’m looking for a good manufacturing technique for carbon fiber rods.

If Life hands you lumps of coal, make carbon nanotubes.

[Tax-chick]

I agree. It’s not like you can use it as a fuel!

[Tax-chick]

[Covenantor]

regarding the question, " Did I feel as though I was being watched in front of the Botanica?"

I was unable to upload the photo proving I was indeed being watched.

The prospect of my activities being re-cored has made me a bit uneasy.

[Tax-chick]

Wear a wide-brimmed hat.

[Covenantor]

Wear a wide-brimmed hat.

Not sure that such hats would prevent the recoring.

[Tax-chick]

Perhaps ... but those outfits would keep a lot of spirits away.

[Monkey Face]

I don’t know, and it really doesn’t matter, because if it’s true, I have already forgiven who said it. If it isn’t true, I have already forgiven Greg.

To forgive means you’ve taken away their power over you. And maybe that was the Lord’s intention when he said we MUST forgive everyone, for everything.

It’s easier for me to forgive than to carry a grudge or have hurt feelings.

[Monkey Face]

Awww...pluppy squee! One of my neighbors has a cat that has some kittens a little younger than these, and mostly white with black and gray markings. Four kittens, I think. So cute!

But this woman is the same one who dumps raw garbage and pet (cat and dog) droppings in the Dumpster. And when the wind blows just right, I get the reeking fumes.