Fourth moon discovered around Pluto
Posted: Thu, Jul 21, 2011, 5:22 AM ET (0922 GMT)
Astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope have found a fourth moon orbiting the dwarf planet Pluto, they announced Wednesday. The moon, officially designated S/2011 (134340) 1 and unofficially dubbed P4, is the smallest body yet found orbiting Pluto, with a diameter of 13 to 34 kilometers. The object was spotted in a Hubble image of the Pluto system taken in late June and confirmed with follow-up observations taken as recently as Monday. It orbits between two other moons, Nix and Hydra, discovered in Hubble observations in 2005. The latest discovery, however, does not change Pluto's official status as a "dwarf planet", after the International Astronomical Union approved a new definition of the term planet in 2006 that effectively demoted what had been the solar system's ninth planet.
Astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope have found a fourth moon orbiting the dwarf planet Pluto, they announced Wednesday. The moon, officially designated S/2011 (134340) 1 and unofficially dubbed P4, is the smallest body yet found orbiting Pluto, with a diameter of 13 to 34 kilometers. The object was spotted in a Hubble image of the Pluto system taken in late June and confirmed with follow-up observations taken as recently as Monday. It orbits between two other moons, Nix and Hydra, discovered in Hubble observations in 2005. The latest discovery, however, does not change Pluto's official status as a "dwarf planet", after the International Astronomical Union approved a new definition of the term planet in 2006 that effectively demoted what had been the solar system's ninth planet.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
SpaceX sets Nov. 18 launch date for sixth Starship test flight
Posted: Sat, Nov 9 9:57 AM ET (1457 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Thursday, November 14
Colorado officials say Space Command should not move to Alabama with Trump presidency
Colorado Newsline — 6:43 am ET (1143 GMT) SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched from Vandenberg Space Force Base in California
KFMB-TV San Diego — 6:42 am ET (1142 GMT) Space Industry Executive George Whitesides Wins Congressional Seat
Aviation Week — 6:41 am ET (1141 GMT) Space trash is falling from the sky. And that’s not the worst of it.
Washington Post — 6:38 am ET (1138 GMT) Commerce Commission takes One NZ to court over SpaceX claims, telco fights back
New Zealand Herald — 6:38 am ET (1138 GMT) |
