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.

[Covenantor]

umm... not all Walkers are the same. Not even Bolt can outrun these Colt Walkers.

[ArGee]

But if I’m outrunning the person with the walker then Clint will be shooting at him or her, not me.

[Monkey Face]

Which is probably why its caller a “murder” of crows... ;o]

[Tax-chick]

Congratulations. I ran a 10K once, won my age group.

[stephenjohnbanker]

“I managed to actually (mostly) run 10K on Saturday. It was my first.

I’m still trying to figure out why as nobody was chasing me.”

Didn’t you see that tiny dark speck about 1/2 mile behind you ?

That was ME!

[Monkey Face]

Anybody want a recipe for eggnog ice cream??

[Monkey Face]

Congratulations! I could never run, but I still walk circles around folks. When I’m feeling good.

The GLK has a squeak in his business arm. For now, it comes and goes, sometimes loud, sometimes soft. Kinda like a golden metronome. Maybe.

[Tax-chick]

No thanks, never cared for egg nog.

[ArGee]

I won the whole thing.

But if I’d been running against anyone else I’d have only passed the people with walkers.

[Tax-chick]

LOL.

[ArGee]

It wasn’t a deluxe model GLK. They don’t actually sell those in Chinatown.

In fact, considering the typical tourist-trap merchandise I see in all the windows it’s holding up pretty well.

Maybe it’s only waving in good luck for itself.

[ArGee]

Thash becaush you never put in the ri (hic) ingrediensh.

[Tax-chick]

Mmmmm, could be.

[ArGee]

Do you have a walker?

The most exciting part of the run was cat hill. You can see information about it here. I was one of those who was mostly out of gas at that point so I made it to the top, but then walked for about .1 mi while someone gathered up and brought me my lungs.

[Monkey Face]

I dunno, but I enjoy the little guy! He’s fun to look at. :o]

[Monkey Face]

Well, pipples, I’m outta here until tomorrow. Stay well and safe!

[stephenjohnbanker]

No walker yet, thank God.

I’m only 62 : )

[ArGee]

Six years more valuable life experience than I have.

But I’m catching up!!!

[NoCmpromiz]

Yer both young pups..

[Tax-chick]