Faraway Eris is Pluto's Twin

The discovery of Eris, a dwarf planet in our solar system, has led to a reclassification of Pluto as a dwarf planet. Eris is located in the Kuiper Belt, a region beyond Neptune that is home to many icy bodies. Eris is similar in size to Pluto and has a highly elliptical orbit that takes it far away from the sun. In fact, Eris is so far away that it takes over 500 years to complete one orbit around the sun. Despite its distance, scientists have been able to learn a lot about this distant world.

What is Eris?

Eris was discovered in 2005 by a team of astronomers led by Mike Brown at the California Institute of Technology. It was initially thought to be larger than Pluto, which led to a debate about whether it should be classified as the tenth planet in our solar system. However, further observations revealed that Eris is actually slightly smaller than Pluto.

Eris is located about three times farther from the sun than Pluto and has an orbital period of 557 years. Its highly elliptical orbit takes it from 38 astronomical units (AU) at its closest approach to the sun to 97 AU at its farthest point.

How does Eris compare to Pluto?

Eris and Pluto are very similar in size, with Eris being only slightly smaller than Pluto. Both are classified as dwarf planets because they have not cleared their orbits of other debris. However, there are some differences between the two worlds.

One major difference is their distance from the sun. Eris is located much farther away than Pluto and has a much longer orbital period. This means that it experiences much colder temperatures and has a different composition than Pluto.

Another difference is their moons. Pluto has five known moons, while Eris has only one known moon called Dysnomia.

What have we learned about Eris?

Despite its distance, scientists have been able to learn a lot about Eris. One of the most interesting things they have discovered is that it has a very reflective surface. This suggests that it is covered in a layer of ice, similar to Pluto.

In addition, observations of Eris have revealed that it has a thin atmosphere composed mainly of nitrogen. This is similar to the atmosphere of Pluto and suggests that the two worlds may have formed in similar ways.

Why is Eris important?

The discovery of Eris has led to a reclassification of Pluto as a dwarf planet. This has sparked a debate about what should be considered a planet and what should not. Some scientists argue that there should be more than eight planets in our solar system, while others believe that Pluto and other dwarf planets should not be considered planets at all.

In addition, the study of Eris and other objects in the Kuiper Belt can tell us a lot about the early history of our solar system. These icy bodies are thought to be remnants from the formation of our solar system over 4 billion years ago.

Conclusion

Eris is a fascinating world located far away in our solar system. Despite its distance, scientists have been able to learn a lot about this distant world and its similarities to Pluto. The study of Eris and other objects in the Kuiper Belt can tell us a lot about the early history of our solar system and how it formed.

FAQs

1. Is Eris bigger than Pluto?

No, Eris is slightly smaller than Pluto.

2. Does Eris have any moons?

Yes, Eris has one known moon called Dysnomia.

3. What is the Kuiper Belt?

The Kuiper Belt is a region beyond Neptune that is home to many icy bodies.

4. Why was Pluto reclassified as a dwarf planet?

The discovery of Eris and other similar objects led to a reclassification of Pluto as a dwarf planet.

5. What can the study of Eris tell us about the early history of our solar system?

The study of Eris and other objects in the Kuiper Belt can tell us a lot about the early history of our solar system and how it formed.

This abstract is presented as an informational news item only and has not been reviewed by a subject matter professional. This abstract should not be considered medical advice. This abstract might have been generated by an artificial intelligence program. See TOS for details.

Most frequent words in this abstract:
eris (5)