Orpington Astronomical Society

Astronomy => In the Media... => Topic started by: Mike on Mar 26, 2014, 18:19:29

Title: New Dwarf Planet Found at Solar System's Edge, Hints at Possible Faraway 'Planet
Post by: Mike on Mar 26, 2014, 18:19:29
New Dwarf Planet Found at Solar System's Edge, Hints at Possible Faraway 'Planet X' (http://www.space.com/25218-dwarf-planet-discovery-solar-system-edge.html?cmpid=514648)

NASA Supported Research Helps Redefine Solar System's Edge (http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/news/display.cfm?News_ID=46852)
Title: Re: New Dwarf Planet Found at Solar System's Edge, Hints at Possible Faraway 'Planet
Post by: MarkH on Mar 26, 2014, 20:42:45
Interesting point about perterbation is that one of these undiscovered outer objects could have a period that could influence some of our stray asteroids. :o
Title: Eccentric PINK DWARF dubbed 'Biden' by cheeky astronomers
Post by: Rick on Mar 27, 2014, 12:52:39
Eccentric PINK DWARF dubbed 'Biden' by cheeky astronomers

A new dwarf planet has been discovered in the Inner Oort cloud that encircles our Solar System some 12 billion miles from Sol.

The planet is a frozen shrimp of a thing – an estimated 450 kilometres across with a surface temperature of -432 degrees Fahrenheit and is presumed to be largely made up of ice that gives it a reddish hue. It's officially called 2012 VP113, which the discovering team shortened to VP, and then eventually Biden to honour the current US vice president.

More  on El Reg (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/03/27/scientists_spot_redfaced_biden_dwarf_wandering_the_depths_of_the_solar_system/)
Title: X marks the... They SAID there was a mystery planet there – NASA
Post by: Rick on Mar 27, 2014, 13:14:31
...and an earlier report in similar vein...

X marks the... They SAID there was a mystery planet there – NASA

Boffins have long hypothesised the existence of a large, but thus far unseen, celestial body in our Solar System, somewhere beyond the orbit of Pluto, but NASA's WISE survey has found no sign of the mysterious "Planet X".

More on El Reg here (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/03/10/planet_x_does_not_exist/)
Title: Re: New Dwarf Planet Found at Solar System's Edge, Hints at Possible Faraway 'Planet
Post by: Rick on Mar 31, 2014, 09:56:26
...and an APOD. (http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap140331.html)