Researchers Konkoly Observatory in Hungary have revealed details about the planet 2007 OR10 making it the third largest dwarf planet and the largest unnamed planet of our solar system, reports the blog Gizmodo. Scientists are aware of the planet since 2007 but had underestimated its size.
2007 OR10 has a diameter of 1,535 kilometers (compared with 2,374 and 2,326 kilometers of Pluto and Eris, the only dwarf planets older than him ). Even smaller than 2007 OR10, as Haumea and Makemake, dwarf planets have been considered large enough to merit a name.
The large size of the planet 2007 OR10 was unknown until now because of its dark surface and orbit strange. 2007 OR10 surface is very dark red, possibly by a layer of methane hydrate, which is very variable. The lack of reflected light was a difficulty that had not allowed the Kepler telescope locate the planet, much less determine its size. In addition, the planet has a very slow rotation resulting in a day of 45 hours, one of the longest in the solar system.
Researchers Observatory Konkoly combined data from Kepler telescope on the reflected light the data on the thermal radiation, which allowed to calculate the exact measurements of the celestial body. The research results appear in an article in the American magazine ‘The Astronomical Journal. Palomar Observatory astronomers who discovered the planet in 2007 have begun to consider possible names for 2007 OR10. When you have an official name, enter the dwarf planet in the process of being recognized by the International Astronomical Union.
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