The Dwarf Planet Haumea

(Before It's News)

Artist’s impression of the dwarf planet Haumea and its moons, Hi’aka and Namaka. Credit: NASA

The Trans-Neptunian region has become a veritable treasure trove of discoveries in recent years. Since 2003, the dwarf planets and “plutoids” of Eris, Sedna, Makemake, Quaoar, and Orcus have been observed beyond the orbit of Pluto. And in between all of these, Haumea – that odd, oblong-shaped dwarf planet that has its own system of moons – was also discovered.

In addition to being the largest member of its particular family of Trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs), Haumea is unique amongts known dwarf planets. This is due to its elongation, an unusually rapid rotation, two known moons, high density, and high albedo. All of these make Haumea somethign of an oddity when it comes to TNOs.

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