Kuiper Belt Flashcards
1
Q
kuiper belt (2)
A
- region of s.s. beyond planets
- consists mainly of sm. bodies which are remnants from s.s. formation
2
Q
kuiper belt objects (KBO)
A
- composed of largely frozen ices
- methane, ammonia, & water
3
Q
home to 3 recognized dwarf planets
A
- pluto
- haumea
- makemake
4
Q
largest member of kuiper belt
A
pluto
5
Q
scattered disk and scattered disk objects
A
- scattered disk = region beyond the kuiper belt
- scattered disk objects = KBO-like bodies w/ extremely lg. orbits
6
Q
eris (3)
A
- trans-neptunian object (TNO)
- largest known dwarf planet in s.s.
- 9th largest body known to orbit sun directly
7
Q
eris physical characteristics
- mass
- orbital pd
- magnitude
- 1 moon
A
- mass = 27% more massive than pluto
- orbital pd = 550 yrs
- magnitude = 18.7
- moon = dysnomia
8
Q
eris distance from sun (3)
A
- current distance from sun = 3 x pluto
- perihelion = 40 AU
- aphelion = 100 AU
9
Q
dwarf planets (5)
A
- pluto
- ceres
- eris
- haumea
- makemake
10
Q
haumea physical characteristics
- mass
- orbital pd
- distance from sun (2)
- rotational pd
- 2 moons
A
- mass = 1/3 mass of pluto
- orbital pd = 280 yrs
- perihelion = 35 AU
- aphelion = 50 AU
- rotational pd = 4 hrs
- 2 moons = Hi’iaka & Namaka
11
Q
why does haumea have an ellipsoidal shape?
A
bc of its rapid rotation
12
Q
Hi’iaka (2)
A
- outer, larger, and brighter moon
- orbits haumea in nearly circular path every 50 days
13
Q
Namaka (3)
A
- smaller, inner moon
- 1/10 mass of haumea
- orbits haumea in 18 days in highly elliptical orbit
14
Q
makemake physical characteristics
- diameter
- distance from the sun (2)
- # of moons
- orbital pd
- rotational pd
A
- diameter = 3/4 pluto
- perihelion = 40 AU
- aphelion = 53 AU
- # of moons = 0
- orbital pd = 310 yrs
- rotation pd = 8 hours
15
Q
makemake surface characteristics (2)
A
- extremely low avg. temps
- surface is covered w/ methane, ethane, & nitrogen ices
