What Happened On January 5th?

In the early 21st century, the technological capabilities of astronomical observatories had advanced significantly, enabling astronomers to survey the far reaches of the Kuiper Belt—an expanse of icy bodies beyond Neptune. It was during this exploration that a team led by astronomer Mike Brown at the California Institute of Technology made an unbelievable observation on January 5, 2005.

The discovery of Eris was not just about identifying another celestial body; it was about recognizing a substantial player in the outer reaches of our solar system. Eris, initially known as 2003 UB313, was found to be slightly smaller than Pluto but possessed a mass greater than our previously ninth and furthest planet.

Eris is composed mainly of ice and rock, typical of objects found in the Kuiper Belt. Its diameter was found to be about 2,326 kilometers (1,445 miles), making it slightly smaller than Pluto but still larger than other dwarf planets. However, new data from Caltech argues that Eris is actually much larger than Pluto.

Eris follows a highly elliptical orbit that takes it to the fringes of the solar system. Its vast distance from the Sun means that it takes approximately 557 Earth years to complete a single orbit.

Eris’s discovery played a significant role in the reevaluation of the definition of planets. In 2006, the International Astronomical Union (IAU) controversially reclassified Pluto as a dwarf planet, along with Eris and other objects in the Kuiper Belt.

Eris’s discovery sparked debates about the classification of celestial bodies and the criteria for defining planets. Some argued for a broader definition that would include Pluto, while others sought to establish clearer guidelines for distinguishing between planets and dwarf planets.

What Did You Learn?

If you were to pick, would you rather know about the origin of humanity or what lies in all of the ocean?

I ask this prompt to all of my friends, and most of them answer “humanity.” However, I am more interested in the mysteries of the ocean’s depths, wondering what creatures live down there.

What do you think? I would love to hear your answer!