Xena, the Supposed Newest Planet, is Larger than Pluto

xenaFor the longest time Pluto was thought to be the ninth and farthest planet from Earth – a distinction given it until Xena was discovered. Measurements of the 2 planets were taken by the Hubble telescope, the only telescope capable of taking a clean visible-light measurement of the actual diameter of each planet, and on December 9th and 10th,2005 the diameter of Xena was measured at 1,490 miles. Pluto measures at 1,422, just shy of Xena’s size. Xena was thought of as being quite a bit larger than Pluto. As it turns out, that inference is incorrect.

Scientists have come up with two theories regarding Xena’s reflective surface. The first is that the atmosphere may have frozen when it got farther from the sun, thus leaving a layer of  frost and making Xena one of the most reflective planets in space. The second, that Xena may be leaking methane gas from the interior, which freezes when it reaches the colder surface creating an icy look. At this point the scientists are unsure which theory could be more correct.

Scientists plan on exploring more recently discovered KBO’s (Kuiper Belt Object) with the use of the Hubble telescope. KBO is a ring of primordial icy comets and larger bodies around Neptune’s orbit.

xenaFor the longest time Pluto was thought to be the ninth and farthest planet from Earth – a distinction given it until Xena was discovered. Measurements of the 2 planets were taken by the Hubble telescope, the only telescope capable of taking a clean visible-light measurement of the actual diameter of each planet, and on December 9th and 10th,2005 the diameter of Xena was measured at 1,490 miles. Pluto measures at 1,422, just shy of Xena’s size. Xena was thought of as being quite a bit larger than Pluto. As it turns out, that inference is incorrect.

Scientists have come up with two theories regarding Xena’s reflective surface. The first is that the atmosphere may have frozen when it got farther from the sun, thus leaving a layer of  frost and making Xena one of the most reflective planets in space. The second, that Xena may be leaking methane gas from the interior, which freezes when it reaches the colder surface creating an icy look. At this point the scientists are unsure which theory could be more correct.

Scientists plan on exploring more recently discovered KBO’s (Kuiper Belt Object) with the use of the Hubble telescope. KBO is a ring of primordial icy comets and larger bodies around Neptune’s orbit.

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