Sedna described as unique trans-Neptunian object with extraordinary orbit
2 Sep 17 4:00 AM · 7d ago · 7 comments · 1 source · development 2 of 2
Commentary clarifies that Sedna, discovered in 2003, is the largest known object orbiting beyond the heliosphere, with a closest approach of 76 AU and aphelion of 937 AU.
“The furthest it gets from the Sun is 937 AU. Sedna is the first and by far the biggest object that orbits the Sun beyond the heliosphere”
PolarRangerVladislav Zubko Lead scientist, Space Research Institute
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Sedna is an extremely ordinary Trans Neptune object, on the large side of things (radius of 500 km) but nothing physically strange, til you look at its orbit. The closest it gets to the Sun is 76 AU, which is well beyond what Neptune can do: not only is it not part of the Kuiper Belt, but it's not really a part of the Scattered disk either. The…
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we have known of it since '03, before Eris and the demotion of Pluto. In my experience it's not significantly less known than other objects of similar size, like Ceres or Tethys
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Charon doesn’t orbit Pluto though, both Pluto and Charon orbit the barycenter of the system, which is placed outside Pluto. Highly unusual for a “moon”, wouldn’t you agree?
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As well as six candidates on the lower size limit. And Charon is often considered to be a dwarf planet, forming a binary planetary system with Pluto.
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Fusion propulsion seems like an easier problem. Rather having to deal with fusion products in a power generator, just let them fly out the back.
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iirc it’s two spacecraft on the same launch. the flyby probe is separated and uses jupiter for a gravity assist whilst the orbiter decelerates
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Always great to see a fellow Cmdr ('-')7 Turkey Trots To Water GG filler text to get over the character limit RR The World Wonders
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Just looked it up - Uranus flyby in... 2045. Yeah, didn't expect to see dates like that coming up so soon.
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This might be a stupid question, but wtf is Sedna and why is this the first time I’ve ever heard of it?
All 2 developments of Scientists identify 2029 launch window for Sedna mission… →
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