Posts Tagged orbits
New “Minor Planet” Found Near Neptune
Posted by mistergroonk in Admin, Space on August 18, 2008
Something new in the night sky, for the moment anyways.
Using the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, astronomers detected a small, comet-like object called 2006 SQ372, which is likely made of rock and ice. However, its orbit never brings it close enough to the sun for it to develop a tail. Its unusual orbit is an ellipse that is four times longer than it is wide, said University of Washington astronomer Andrew Becker, who led the discovery team.
[…]
2006 SQ372 is beginning the return leg of a 22,500-year journey that will take it to a distance of 150 billion miles, nearly 1,600 times the distance from the Earth to the Sun. Scientists believe the object is only 50-100 kilometers (30-60 miles) across.
But did you hear about Pluto? Messed up right?
(via universe today)



