Re: `Sedna` new solar object... -- AMIGA Astronomy

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Subject: Re: `Sedna` new solar object...

Author:
Blobrana

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Date Posted: 12:57:04 03/15/04 Mon
In reply to: Info 's message, "`Sedna` new solar object..." on 22:56:35 03/14/04 Sun

Nice one!
Follow-up studies were made by the Spitzer Space Telescope and the Tanagra Observatorys. The studies have measured the thermal radiation coming from Sedna to determine how hot it is, and therefore provide some estimate of its size.
The new planet, is the first to be discovered for more than 74 years, is believed to be about 1250 miles across.
Although Sedna could be a so-called Kuiper Belt object, its discoverers are unsure if it is as they consider it unlike any other object yet found.

The importance of Sedna is that it is the first such world discovered in a `normal` orbit. Other similar but smaller worlds, like Quaoar and Varuna, originated in the Kuiper Belt but have since been perturbed into different orbits. The discovery will reignite the debate about what is a planet.
Sedna, or 2003 VB16, as it was originally designated, is the most distant object yet found orbiting our Sun. It is three times further away than Pluto.

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