New Kuiper Object Rivals Pluto

[Fraser]

SUMMARY: Astronomers from Caltech and Yale University have discovered a distant object that could be nearly as large as Pluto. The planetoid is called 2004 DW, and located in the Kuiper Belt, billions of kilometres from Earth. The team estimates that 2004 DW is 1,400 km across, but it's difficult to tell, because the size estimate comes from its brightness. The reflected light from the Sun, which astronomers call "albedo", depends on the darkness of the object. Other astronomers will try and help pin down the characteristics of 2004 DW.

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[kuhlness]

Google says this site contains the phrase "how does one pronounce Kuiper" but as far as I can see it doesn't. Two questions: why not, and how does one pronounce it?

[dirty_g]

WOuldnt be a new discovery though as its designated 2004 right? maybe its planet X!! aghhhh

[parallaxicality]

point one: probably buried under years of topics. But this is hardly the only site with the answer.

point two: usually to rhyme with piper.

[tony873004]

WOuldnt be a new discovery though as its designated 2004 right? maybe its planet X!! aghhhh

That means it was discovered in an image taken in 2004, but perhaps not noticed until recently. Same for 2003 UB₃₁₃, the KBO larger than Pluto. Its discovery was announced in 2005.

[tony873004]

I just simulated its orbit. It's a Plutino. It has a 3:2 resonance with Neptune.

[01101001]

Google says this site contains the phrase "how does one pronounce Kuiper" but as far as I can see it doesn't. Two questions: why not, and how does one pronounce it?

See topic Pronunciation of Kuiper ? Find there Dutch Pronuncuations of Famous Names, including audio examples.

[grant hutchison]

That means it was discovered in an image taken in 2004, but perhaps not noticed until recently. Same for 2003 UB₃₁₃, the KBO larger than Pluto. Its discovery was announced in 2005.

It's now officially 90482 Orcus.

Grant Hutchison

[George]

I just simulated its orbit. It's a Plutino. It has a 3:2 resonance with Neptune.

Yep.

At 1400 km in dia., it should be 17.5 in apparent magnitude (according to the inv. sq. formula that we've been playing with, and using .4 albedo at 47 AU.)

Here's the Palomar 2004 ephemeris.