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.

[OddLane]

We're Coming Back!

[NicknamedBob]

"... so he knows we pay the rent and put the trash out on leaving."

Well, yeah but by then it's family so it usually comes with us.

[IamConservative]

Obama will probably want the planet named after him. Could be quite the dilemma since Uranus has already been taken.

[null and void]

HERE!!!

[ArGee]

Well, that was right nice of you, Ben.

I’ll bring some donuts in the morning while we settle in.

[moose07]

So that’s what keeps following me around.
Piles of domesticated trash !

[NicknamedBob]

It’s like a Mickey Mouse Musical, “The Recycler’s Apprentice”.

[moose07]

That truly is worthy of a LoL!
Good one Bob. :)

[Tax-chick]

[Silentgypsy]

Thank you very much!

[Covenantor]

Ummm...Major Domo reporting....Am I in the right place?

I mean, technically I'm not a dwarf, neither am I undead...I think.

[Covenantor]

[Tax-chick]

Not without my kitten!!!

[Tax-chick]

Morning, folks! It’s a warm day here in Boring. Today some people are going to VBS, some are going to swimming lesson, and then my hairdresser is coming over.

[Monkey Face]

Thank you Ben Lurkin! WOO HOO! We live!

Almost where I left you (the thread) yesterday in my readings! WOOT!

*happy dance*

[Monkey Face]

And Nevada. Don’t forget Nevada. Good things come out of Nevada. Every once in a while. Like me. I’ve been known to travel. ;o]

[Monkey Face]

We’re HERE!

HOORAY for the new digs! Thanks again Ben Lurkin! What a great thing to wake up to, Darksheare!

[Tax-chick]

Good morning! I’m about to leave for VBS, followed by several other things, but Bill will be here if you need any hairstyling advice.

[Monkey Face]

Kittehs will have to wait till I have my shower. I didn’t sleep until almost 2300 last night and as a result, I’m out of my elephant again. Hopefully, a shower will wake me up properly.

[ArGee]

OK, the place I found had some really interesting filling for the jelly donuts and I can’t speak for what that white powderis on the powdered donuts.

Enjoy!