PHOTO . Spying on the outskirts of solar system , the Hubble Space Telescope, has found a small, dark moon orbiting Makemake , the second brightest dwarf planet frozen – after Pluto – in the Kuiper Belt, the agency said NASA .
The moon, provisionally named S / 2015 (136472) 1 and carries the nickname MK 2 – is more than 1,300 times fainter than Makemake . MK 2 was seen at approximately 1.3000 miles dwarf planet.
Kuiper Belt is a large reservoir of leftover frozen material of construction of our solar system some 4.5 billion years and home to several dwarf planets. Some of these worlds have their own satellites, but this is the first discovery of a companion Makemake . Makemake is one of the five dwarf planets recognized by the International Astronomical Union.
NASA OBJECTS MORE PAST NEPTUNE
Objects similiar to Pluto. (Photo: NASA )
The observations were made in April 2015 with a camera Hubble telescope that has the unique ability to see objects faint about bright, along with a sharp resolution. These qualities allowed astronomers to view a MK 2 Moon Makemake .
The discovery was announced Tuesday at the Minor Planet Electronic Circular, reported the NASA , which also recalled that previous observations about Makemake failed to bear fruit.
“Our preliminary estimates showed that the orbit of the moon seems on the verge, which means that usually when you see the system you will not see the light, because it loses about brightness Makemake” said Alex Parker, who led the analysis of the observations.
NASA ILLUSTRATION Makemake
Makemake and its moon, nicknamed MK 2, are very far from the sun. they are located 50 times farther than Earth from our star. (Photo: NASA ESA , and A. Parker (Southwest Research Institute)
LO I KNOW NOW Makemake Y MK 2
Find a moon can provide invaluable information about the system dwarf planets and the theory that most of these worlds have satellites is reinforced. “Makemake is in the strange class objects like Pluto , so finding a companion is important, “said Parker according to the page NASA .
“The discovery of this moon has given us an opportunity to study Makemake in detail, so that we could never have done without her companion,” he said.
The discovery this moon also increased the parallels between Pluto and Makemake . Both objects are known to be covered with frozen methane, referred the NASA . “This new discovery opens a new chapter in comparative planetology in the outer solar system,” said team leader Marc Buie.
Researchers need more observations Hubble to make more accurate to determine if MK 2 has an elliptical or circular orbit measures. Preliminarily it is believed to be circular and takes 12 days to complete the cycle.
Determine the shape of the orbit MK 2 also allow solve the question of their origin. Although it might have already solved one of the mysteries of Makemake . Previous studies revealed that samples infrared surface of the dwarf planet was almost completely bright and very cold, it was warmer areas.
It was believed that the discrepancy was due to the discrete heating Sunspots, but had not found any variable that allow test the theory. Now experts believe that the warm surfaces were actually the dark surface of MK 2.
VIDEO of the NASA Makemake Y MK 2
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