Monday 22 December 2008

New Dwarf Planet Approved


The International Astronomical Union (IAU) on September 17, 2008, approved a newly discovered dwarf planet in the solar system. It was given a Hawaiian name : Haumea, after the Hawaiian goddess of earth and fertility.

Haumea is the solar system’s fifth dwarf planet , in the same category and region as Pluto. Haumea is shaped like an elongated egg. It was discovered in 2005. The other dwarf planets Include Ceres, Pluto, Eris and Makemake.

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