dwarf planet – Astronomy Now

‘Farfarout’ confirmed to be really, seriously far out

12 February 2021 Astronomy Now

Astronomers confirm a dwarf planet nicknamed ‘Farfarout’ is, in fact, the most distant solar system body yet detected.

VLT images suggest fourth-largest asteroid may be a dwarf planet

29 October 2019 Astronomy Now

New observations of the asteroid Hygiea reveal a nearly spherical shape, indicating the body meets the basic qualifications for dwarf-planet status.

See dwarf planet Ceres at its best for 2019

28 May 2019 Ade Ashford

Have you ever seen a dwarf planet? Of the five within our solar system recognised by the International Astronomical Union – Ceres, Pluto, Haumea, Makemake and Eris – only Ceres can be considered bright and easy to locate. It reaches opposition in the constellation of Scorpius on 29 May at magnitude +7, an easy binocular object if you follow our guide.

Astronomers find most distant Solar System body to date

19 December 2018 Astronomy Now

Astronomers have found the most distant body yet discovered in Earth’s solar system, a dwarf planet 120 times farther from the Sun than Earth.

Extreme dwarf planet – ‘The Goblin’ – influenced by Planet X?

2 October 2018 Astronomy Now

Astronomers searching the outer solar system for signs of a super Earth-size world beyond Pluto have found another small body in an orbit consistent with the presumed gravitational influence of the presumed Planet X.

Let Saturn be your guide to finding asteroid Vesta at its brightest

8 June 2018 Ade Ashford

Many of you may have tracked down an asteroid with binoculars or a telescope, but have you ever seen one with the naked eye? If not, then June presents you with an opportunity to see the brightest, 4 Vesta, at a close opposition. What’s more, ringed planet Saturn lies close by to act as a convenient guide.

See dwarf planet Ceres at opposition on 31 January

26 January 2018 Ade Ashford

While antipodean observers are enjoying views of the totally eclipsed Blue Moon in Cancer the Crab on the night of 31 January/1 February, Northern Hemisphere observers should look out for magnitude +6.9 1 Ceres at opposition in the northern fringes of the same constellation. The dwarf planet puts on a good show in the dark of the Moon during February.

Dawn provides a new perspective on Ceres’ Occator Crater

19 December 2017 Astronomy Now

NASA has released simulated perspective views looking into Occator Crater, which contains the brightest area on Ceres. The views were created from images captured by the Dawn spacecraft.

NASA’s Dawn mission gears up for close look at Ceres

20 October 2017 Stephen Clark

NASA’s Dawn spacecraft will remain at Ceres for the rest of its mission, heading closer to the asteroid belt’s largest resident than ever before to obtain new measurements of ice, salts and a tenuous intermittent atmosphere detected around the dwarf planet, the space agency announced Thursday.

Ring discovered around Haumea, an egg-shaped dwarf planet beyond Neptune

12 October 2017 Astronomy Now

New observations of the dwarf planet Haumea, an elongated object orbiting beyond Neptune, have revealed the presence of an icy ring.