Space & Astronomy

Dwarf planet is third largest in solar system

By T.K. Randall
May 12, 2016 ·  14 comments

2007 OR10 has turned out to be much larger than expected. Image Credit: NASA Currently known by its less-than-exciting designation 2007 OR10, this small, distant world is one of several trans-Neptunian objects discovered in the outer solar system over the last two decades.

Originally thought to be 1,200km in diameter, OR10 is so far out that it has proven difficult to measure and has long been considered one of the most distant objects in the solar system.

Now though, following a new analysis of data from the Kepler and Herschel space telescopes, this intriguing dwarf planet has turned out to be 1,535km across - much larger than previously thought.This discovery puts OR10 in third place in terms of size behind Pluto and Eris.

The next step will be to determine what it is composed of and then to find it a proper name.

"All of the other objects out there we've named have had some sort of appropriate name based on some feature," said study team leader András Pál. "But we will learn more soon, I have hope."

Source: New Scientist | Comments (14)

Tags: Dwarf Planet