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Objects Encyclopedia Entry 1778334967

** **Kuiper Belt Object (KBO) 2007 OR10**, also known as **Eris' cousin**, is a **dwarf planet** located in the **Kuiper Belt**, a region of icy bodies beyond Neptune's orbit. ## Overview **Kuiper Belt Object (KBO) 2007 OR10**, informally known as **Eris' cousin**, is a **dwarf planet** discovered in 2007 by astronomers at the **Palomar Observatory** in California. This **Kuiper Belt Object (KBO)** is a fascinating celestial body that has contributed significantly to our understanding of the **solar system's** outer reaches. The discovery of **2007 OR10** has shed light on the **dwarf planet** population in the **Kuiper Belt**, a region of icy bodies beyond Neptune's orbit. **2007 OR10** is a **dwarf planet** with a highly eccentric orbit, which takes it as close as 28 astronomical units (AU) from the **Sun** and as far as 95 AU from the **Sun**. One astronomical unit is the average distance between the **Earth** and the **Sun**. The **dwarf planet** has a highly inclined orbit, which means it is tilted at an angle of about 44 degrees relative to the **Earth's** orbit. This unique orbit makes **2007 OR10** an interesting target for astronomers studying the **Kuiper Belt** and its inhabitants. ## History/Background The discovery of **2007 OR10** was announced on August 18, 2007, by a team of astronomers led by **Michael Brown** from the **California Institute of Technology (Caltech)**. The discovery was made using the **Palomar Observatory's** 1.2-meter **Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS)** telescope. The team used a technique called **astrometry**, which involves measuring the position and motion of celestial objects over time to determine their orbits. The discovery of **2007 OR10** was significant because it provided evidence for the existence of a large population of **dwarf planets** in the **Kuiper Belt**. Prior to this discovery, the **Kuiper Belt** was thought to be a region of small, icy bodies, but the discovery of **2007 OR10** showed that there were larger objects present in the region. ## Key Information **2007 OR10** is a **dwarf planet** with a diameter of approximately 1,100 kilometers (683 miles). Its surface is thought to be composed primarily of water ice, with a possible layer of darker material on top. The **dwarf planet** has a highly reflective surface, which suggests that it may be covered in ice. **2007 OR10** has a highly eccentric orbit, which takes it as close as 28 AU from the **Sun** and as far as 95 AU from the **Sun**. This means that the **dwarf planet** experiences extreme variations in temperature and brightness as it orbits the **Sun**. ## Significance The discovery of **2007 OR10** has significant implications for our understanding of the **solar system's** outer reaches. The **Kuiper Belt** is thought to be a reservoir for short-period comets, which are icy bodies that originate from the **Kuiper Belt** and are perturbed into orbits that bring them closer to the **Sun**. The discovery of **2007 OR10** provides evidence for the existence of a large population of **dwarf planets** in the **Kuiper Belt**, which suggests that there may be many more objects like **2007 OR10** waiting to be discovered. INFOBOX: - **Name:** 2007 OR10 (Kuiper Belt Object) - **Type:** Dwarf planet - **Date:** August 18, 2007 - **Location:** Kuiper Belt - **Known For:** Discovery of a large population of dwarf planets in the Kuiper Belt TAGS: **Kuiper Belt**, **Dwarf Planet**, **Astronomy**, **Space Exploration**, **Solar System**, **KBO**, **Eris**, **Palomar Observatory**, **California Institute of Technology (Caltech)**