Hygiea, currently classified as an asteroid, already met three of four requirements for dwarf planet status: It orbits the sun. It isn't a moon. And it hasn't swept its orbital path clear of other space rocks, the way fully fledged planets are able to. Now, new telescope images reveal that Hygiea is nearly spherical , which checks the last box to qualify as a dwarf planet.
If officially reclassified by the International Astronomical Union, Hygiea would join the handful of dwarf planets, including Pluto , in our solar system ( SN: 5/25/18 ). About 430 kilometers across, Hygiea would unseat Ceres, with its 950-kilometer diameter, as the smallest dwarf planet discovered in our solar system, researchers report online October 28 in Nature Astronomy .
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Island man creates, installs solar system mobile | Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber
NASA finds Neptune moons locked in 'dance of avoidance' -- ScienceDaily
Even by the wild standards of the outer solar system, the strange orbits that carry Neptune's two innermost moons are unprecedented, according to newly published research.
Orbital dynamics experts are calling it a "dance of avoidance" performed by the tiny moons Naiad and Thalassa. The two are true partners, orbiting only about 1,150 miles (1,850 kilometers) apart. But they never get that close to each other; Naiad's orbit is tilted and perfectly timed. Every time it passes the slower-moving Thalassa, the two are about 2,200 miles (3,540 kilometers) apart.
Arrival of interstellar object, comet 2I/Borisov, excites astronomers partly because of how
The largest survey of attitudes towards dating and romance in Australia has revealed that many of us may not be as open-minded we think.
After coming out as gay, Canberra teen Jye was bullied by some of his peers and became withdrawn and depressed. But thanks to the resurgent popularity of voguing — a '90s trend made famous by Madonna — he's finding joy and inspiring others.
Not to change the topic here:
BENLEE adds rooftop solar system to Michigan headquarters via POWERHOME Solar | Solar Builder
BENLEE, a leading roll-off trailer and lugger truck manufacturer in North America, has established new sustainability goals for 2020 and beyond. As part of those goals, the company had POWERHOME (another company that loves all-caps) install 404 roof-mounted solar panels on its corporate headquarters in Romulus, Mich.
Energy bills comprise a significant portion of a business's operating costs. Companies who install solar panels reduce those expenses, improve their bottom lines, and can focus more resources on core business strategies and even increase the value of their companies. As the price of solar energy systems continues to drop, those systems offer predictably priced electricity, making solar a strong value proposition for companies nationwide.
Saturn now reigns as the solar system's 'moon king' | Science News for Students
Saturn now has the most known moons of any planet in the solar system. The Cassini spacecraft took this image in 2011. It shows Saturn and five of its moons.
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Saturn now reigns as the solar system's "moon king." Astronomers have added 20 more moons to its total. That brings the tally for this ringed planet to 82. And that knocks Jupiter — with 79 moons — off the throne. The Minor Planet Center, part of the International Astronomical Union, announced Saturn's new "moon king" status on October 7.
EYES TO THE SKY: Worldview: Origin of our Sun, solar system, ourselves |
Mount Washington — During the dark time of year here in the Northeast, our visual environment is more of starry skies than earthly phenomena. In this "Eyes to the Sky," as in a post a few weeks ago, I offer you the opportunity to reflect on the natural world as revealed to us by astronomers and astrophotographers. I have the pleasure of presenting the words and images of astrophotographer Terry Hancock, the creator of "Fly Like an Eagle," the nebula image featured above.
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