Tenth Planet Found ?

[vindictive666 (John)]

Astronomers have found a new planet in the outer reaches of the solar system.



http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2...htm?list165438

[Eardrum73]

Didn't they name it after an Inuit goddess Sedna?

Or have I got the name confused with a large orbiting rock beyond Pluto?

[mickoking]

Originally Posted by Eardrum73

Didn't they name it after an Inuit goddess Sedna?

Or have I got the name confused with a large orbiting rock beyond Pluto?

Sedna is a smaller object discoverd a few years ago outside pluto's orbit. The new object (2003 UB313) is larger than Pluto so it is technically a planet. I think in the comming years many of these kuiper belt objects are going to be found perhaps some as large as Mars or even the Earth. To continue to call these objects Planets is a moot point.

I believe all large Kuiper belt objects should be named after astronomy forum members. So in that spirit I nominate the name Mickoking for 2003 UB313

[ving (David)]

heres some info on the kupiter belt objects, sedna and buffy
http://www.space.com/scienceastronom...ry_monday.html