Results for "**Minor Planet Center**"
Objects Encyclopedia Entry 1781412965
** The **Kuiper Belt Object (KBO) 2000 EB173** is a small, icy celestial body located in the outer reaches of the **Solar System**, specifically within the **Kuiper Belt**, a region of icy bodies and other small celestial objects beyond the orbit of **Neptune**. ## Overview The **Kuiper Belt** is a vast, doughnut-shaped region of icy bodies, asteroids, and other small celestial objects that surrounds the **Solar System**. It is thought to be a reservoir of small, icy bodies that were left over from the formation of the **Solar System**. The **Kuiper Belt** is named after the Dutch-American astronomer **Gerald Kuiper**, who first proposed its existence in the 1950s. One of the most notable objects in the **Kuiper Belt** is the **Kuiper Belt Object (KBO) 2000 EB173**, which was discovered in 2000 by a team of astronomers led by **Brian Marsden**. **KBO 2000 EB173** is a small, icy world that is estimated to be about 100-200 kilometers in diameter. It is thought to be a dwarf planet, similar to **Pluto**, and is composed primarily of water ice mixed with darker organic material. **KBO 2000 EB173** has a highly eccentric orbit, which takes it as close as 28 astronomical units (AU) from the **Sun** and as far as 48 AU from the **Sun**. One astronomical unit is the average distance between the **Earth** and the **Sun**, which is about 149.6 million kilometers. ## History/Background The discovery of **KBO 2000 EB173** was announced in 2000 by a team of astronomers from the **Minor Planet Center**. The object was discovered using a combination of ground-based telescopes and the **Spacewatch** survey, which is a program designed to detect and track small, faint objects in the **Solar System**. The discovery of **KBO 2000 EB173** was significant because it provided further evidence for the existence of the **Kuiper Belt**, which was first proposed by **Gerald Kuiper** in the 1950s. ## Key Information **KBO 2000 EB173** is a small, icy world that is estimated to be about 100-200 kilometers in diameter. It is thought to be a dwarf planet, similar to **Pluto**, and is composed primarily of water ice mixed with darker organic material. **KBO 2000 EB173** has a highly eccentric orbit, which takes it as close as 28 astronomical units (AU) from the **Sun** and as far as 48 AU from the **Sun**. The object's orbit is also highly inclined, which means that it is tilted at an angle of about 40 degrees relative to the **Earth's** orbit around the **Sun**. **KBO 2000 EB173** has a surface temperature that is estimated to be around -233 degrees Celsius, which is much colder than the surface temperature of **Pluto**. The object's surface is also thought to be highly reflective, which suggests that it may have a surface composed of water ice mixed with darker organic material. ## Significance The discovery of **KBO 2000 EB173** is significant because it provides further evidence for the existence of the **Kuiper Belt**, which is thought to be a reservoir of small, icy bodies that were left over from the formation of the **Solar System**. The discovery of **KBO 2000 EB173** also highlights the importance of continued exploration and study of the **Solar System**, which can provide valuable insights into the formation and evolution of our cosmic neighborhood. INFOBOX: - Name: 2000 EB173 - Type: Kuiper Belt Object (KBO) - Date: Discovered in 2000 - Location: Kuiper Belt - Known For: Discovery of a small, icy world in the Kuiper Belt TAGS: **Kuiper Belt**, **Kuiper Belt Object (KBO)**, **Dwarf Planet**, **Pluto**, **Solar System**, **Astronomy**, **Space Exploration**, **Minor Planet Center**, **Spacewatch**
Space & AstronomyObjects Encyclopedia Entry 1778620684
** The **Kuiper Belt Object (KBO)** 2007 OR10 is a small, icy celestial body located in the outer reaches of the **Solar System**. ## Overview The **Kuiper Belt** is a region of the **Solar System** that contains a large number of small, icy bodies, including dwarf **planets** like **Pluto**. These objects are remnants from the formation of the **Solar System** and are thought to be the building blocks of the planets. One of these objects is 2007 OR10, a **Kuiper Belt Object (KBO)** that was discovered in 2007 by the **Palomar Observatory** in California. 2007 OR10 is a small, icy world with a highly eccentric orbit that takes it from 28 to 45 astronomical units (AU) from the **Sun**. One astronomical unit is the average distance between the **Earth** and the **Sun**, which is about 93 million miles or 149.6 million kilometers. This object is about 280 kilometers in diameter, making it one of the smaller **KBOs**. ## History/Background The discovery of 2007 OR10 was announced on August 26, 2007, by the **Minor Planet Center**. The object was discovered using a 1.2-meter telescope at the **Palomar Observatory** in California. The discovery was made by a team of astronomers led by **Michael Brown**, a renowned expert on **Kuiper Belt Objects**. ## Key Information 2007 OR10 is a small, icy world with a highly eccentric orbit. Its surface is thought to be composed of water ice mixed with darker organic material. The object's highly eccentric orbit takes it from the **Kuiper Belt** to the **outer reaches of the Solar System**, where it is thought to interact with the **Oort Cloud**, a region of icy bodies that surrounds the **Solar System**. One of the most interesting aspects of 2007 OR10 is its highly reflective surface. The object's surface is thought to be composed of water ice, which is highly reflective and gives the object a bright appearance. This is in contrast to other **KBOs**, which are often darker and more reddish in color. ## Significance The discovery of 2007 OR10 has provided valuable insights into the formation and evolution of the **Solar System**. The object's highly eccentric orbit and highly reflective surface make it an interesting target for further study. The object's surface is thought to be composed of water ice mixed with darker organic material, which is a common feature of many **KBOs**. The discovery of 2007 OR10 has also highlighted the importance of continued exploration of the **Solar System**. The object's highly eccentric orbit takes it from the **Kuiper Belt** to the **outer reaches of the Solar System**, where it is thought to interact with the **Oort Cloud**. This region of the **Solar System** is thought to be a reservoir of icy bodies that can be perturbed into orbits that bring them closer to the **Sun**, potentially leading to the formation of **comets**. INFOBOX: - **Name:** 2007 OR10 - **Type:** **Kuiper Belt Object (KBO)** - **Date:** August 26, 2007 (discovery) - **Location:** **Kuiper Belt** - **Known For:** Highly reflective surface and highly eccentric orbit TAGS: **Kuiper Belt Object (KBO)**, **Solar System**, **Pluto**, **Palomar Observatory**, **Minor Planet Center**, **Michael Brown**, **Oort Cloud**, **Comets**, **Astronomy**, **Space Exploration**
Space & AstronomyObjects Encyclopedia Entry 1782462425
** The **Kuiper Belt Object (KBO) 2007 OR10**, also known as **Eris' cousin**, is a large, icy world located in the outer reaches of the **Solar System**. ## Overview The **Kuiper Belt** is a region of icy bodies, including dwarf planets, asteroids, and comets, beyond the **Orbital Zone** of the **Solar System**. It is a vast, disk-shaped region that contains many small, icy worlds, remnants from the formation of the **Solar System**. **2007 OR10**, discovered in 2007 by the **Palomar Observatory**, is a notable member of this region, with a size and composition that make it a fascinating subject of study. ## History/Background The discovery of **2007 OR10** was announced on August 18, 2007, by the **Minor Planet Center**. The object was initially thought to be a dwarf planet, but subsequent observations revealed it to be a large, icy world with a highly eccentric orbit. The name **2007 OR10** was assigned to the object, but it was later nicknamed **Eris' cousin** due to its similarities in size and composition to **Eris**, a dwarf planet in the **Kuiper Belt**. ## Key Information **2007 OR10** is a **Kuiper Belt Object (KBO)**, a type of icy world that orbits the **Sun** at a great distance. It has a diameter of approximately 1,470 kilometers (913 miles), making it one of the largest known KBOs. The object's surface is thought to be composed primarily of water ice, with a possible layer of darker organic material. **2007 OR10** has a highly eccentric orbit, which takes it from 38 to 95 astronomical units (AU) from the **Sun** over the course of its 557-year orbital period. ## Significance The discovery of **2007 OR10** has significant implications for our understanding of the **Solar System**. The object's size and composition suggest that it may be a remnant from the early days of the **Solar System**, when the planets were still forming. The study of **2007 OR10** and other KBOs can provide valuable insights into the formation and evolution of the **Solar System**, as well as the potential for life beyond **Earth**. INFOBOX: - Name: 2007 OR10 (Kuiper Belt Object) - Type: KBO (Kuiper Belt Object) - Date: August 18, 2007 (discovery date) - Location: Kuiper Belt, outer reaches of the Solar System - Known For: Large size and icy composition, highly eccentric orbit TAGS: **Kuiper Belt**, **Solar System**, **Dwarf Planet**, **Astronomy**, **Space Exploration**, **KBO**, **Icy World**, **Orbital Zone**, **Eris**, **Palomar Observatory**, **Minor Planet Center**