A tenth planet was just recently discovered less than two years ago. On January 8, 2005 the planet, which is currently called 2003UB313, was found. It was later names as Eris.

It took awhile for scientists to realize that this was indeed a planet. The time-lapse photograph, in which the new planet was discovered, was first shot in the year 2003. These pictures were taken with the Samuel Oschin Telescope at the Palomar Observatory near San Diego, California.

The images that were taken back in the year 2003 were taken approximately 90 minutes apart. In one photo the newly found planet is found moving amongst a sea of stars. Further studies are being done to learn about the properties of this newly found entity.

This new planet is one that is the furthest away from the sun, further away than others-three times further than Pluto. Therefore, this planet will most likely be very cold and dark, with temperatures comparable to Pluto and other planets. Finding this planet did not appear to be a planned activity.

One of the original photographs taken of the planet Eris (a.k.a. dwarf planet) show this planet as mostly covered with darkness (as mentioned in the earlier paragraph). However, the part that is visible in the photo reveals the color scheme of this planet. It appears as that of a multi-colored marble, and consists of a mixture of colors including pink, white, and possible green colors.

According to one source the first discovers of the planet Eris include M.E. Brown, C.A. Trujillo, and D.L. Rabinowitz. The date of the discovery according to one source is in the date 2003, but according to NASA scientists did not know that Eris existed at the time of the photo taking.

The planet Eris is believed to be 2400 km approximately (give or take 100 km). This would be approximately 1500 miles around, give or take about 60 miles. The Hubble Telescope took this measurement in the year 2006.

Eris is considered the largest in a group of dwarf planets. Therefore, this planet has been officially named the solar system’s tenth planet. Furthermore, it joins Pluto and another planet named Ceres as a new group of planets called the dwarf planets. Mike Brown, one of the discoverers, designated this new label.

The diameter of Eris is about 19 percent that of the diameter of Earth. The mass and density of this planet are not set in stone yet, but could be by the time this article is published.

It is also categorized as a trans-Neptunian Object. This means that it orbits at a distance greater than that of the average of Neptune.  It orbits the sun in a region known as the scattered disc, which is one of the three divisions of the volume of space where planets like Eris travels.

The planet of Eris is accompanied by at least one moon. Further studies are being done on the possibility of there being more moons that exist in the vicinity of this planet. Other studies are being conducted on the study of the new planet of Eris as well.

There is so much more to learn regarding Eris, as well as other aspect of the solar system. (You may want to study and find out why Ceres is not considered one of the main planets and Eris is, for instance). More articles like this may be posted soon regarding the planet Eris, as well as regarding other subjects pertaining to the solar system.

New discoveries are being made about the universe every single day. Further research is being done on the specific properties of the planet Eris.

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