SPACERIUM

Haumea, a dwarf planet residing in the frigid Kuiper Belt, is a celestial oddity. Its most striking feature is its elongated shape, resembling an American football. This unusual characteristic, along with its mysterious past and intriguing properties, has captured the imagination of astronomers and space enthusiasts alike. Discovery and Naming The discovery of Haumea is shrouded in a bit of controversy. While the California Institute of Technology team led by Mike Brown is often credited with its discovery in 2005, evidence suggests that a Spanish team might have spotted it a few days earlier. The name Haumea is a nod to the Hawaiian goddess of childbirth and fertility. In keeping with the Hawaiian theme, its moons were named after the goddess's daughters. Orbit and Location Haumea calls the Kuiper Belt, a region beyond Neptune's orbit filled with icy bodies, its home. It takes a leisurely 285 Earth years for Haumea to complete one orbit around the Sun. Its orbital path is tilt...

Beyond the familiar orbits of our solar system's planets lies a mysterious realm of icy bodies known as the Kuiper Belt. Among these celestial wanderers is Makemake, a dwarf planet shrouded in an aura of intrigue. With its reddish hue, distant orbit, and enigmatic nature, Makemake has captivated the attention of astronomers and space enthusiasts alike. Let’s embark on a journey to explore this distant world and uncover its secrets. Discovery and Naming Makemake, a dwarf planet residing in the frigid expanse of the Kuiper Belt, was discovered on March 31, 2005, by a team led by Michael E. Brown at the Palomar Observatory in California. Initially nicknamed "Easterbunny" due to its discovery around Easter, it was later formally named after the Rapa Nui creation deity. This name reflects the object's position in the sky during its discovery. Composition and Characteristics Makemake, a substantial object with a diameter roughly two-thirds that of Pluto, is primarily compos...