Eris

Tuesday, April 23, 2024

Eris, first discovered in 2003, first appeared to be larger than Pluto, a discovery that triggered debate in the scientific community and eventually led to the International Astronomical Union's decision in 2006 to clarify the definition of a planet. Recent observations indicate Eris may actually be a little smaller than Pluto. The dwarf planet is often so far from the sun that its atmosphere collapses and freezes on the surface in an icy glaze. The coating gleams brightly, reflecting as much sunlight as freshly fallen snow. Scientist's believe surface temperatures to vary from about -359 degrees Fahrenheit (-217 degrees Celsius) to -405 degrees Fahrenheit (-243 degrees Celsius). The thin atmosphere will thaw in hundreds of years as Eris gets closer to the sun, revealing a rocky surface scientists believe is similar to Pluto. -[NASA]

Changing Data

Rises:

Sets:

Apparent Magnitude:

Illumination:

%

Size (")

Distance in light minutes:

Distance in miles:

0

Distance in AU:

Orbital Data

Rotational Period:

1.079

Orbital Period:

561.37

Perihelion:

5.766 * 10⁹ km

Aphelion:

1.459 * 10¹⁰ km

Epoch:

2011.08.27

Inclination:

46.87°

Semi-Major Axis:

1.018 * 10¹⁰ km

Orbit Circumference:

6.084 * 10¹⁰ km

Eccentricity:

0.433628367

Ascending Node:

36.06488°

Axial Tilt:

°

Albedo:

Color BV:

0.78

Color UV:

Equatorial Diameter:

2.600 * 10³ km

Equatorial Circumference:

0.000 * 10⁰ km

Surface Area:

7.850 * 10⁷ km²

Surface Gravity:

~0.8 m/s²

Surface Temperature:

-243 - -218

Mass:

1.670 * 10²² kg

Volume:

0.00000 * 10⁰ km³

Density:

2.36 g/cm³

Absolute Magnitude:

-1.2