The forces of rotation caused red hot masses of stones to be torn away from the Earth and to be thrown into the ether, and this is the origin of the stars.

— Anaxagoras 428 BC

New Dwarf Planet

By Kevin at Tue, 07/15/2008 - 12:44pm

The IAU has designated "Makemake" a dwarf planet, with Ceres, Eris and Pluto, that brings the total to
four. Makemake (pronounced MAH-kay MAH-kay) is named for the Easter Island creator of humanity.

Its distance is currently 52 AU, year is 310 years and inclination is 29 degrees. This is very Pluto-like and so Makemake is also a Plutoid.

I guess we need a new Solar System mnemonic: 

My Very Educated Mother Could Just Serve Us Nine Pizzas -- Excellent Man!

Who's next?

Submitted by kuky
on Tue, 07/15/2008 - 3:02pm

http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/append7.html#DwarfPlanets