A team of astronomers has tested a distant planetary orbit at the most distant parts of our solar system – aptly nicknamed “Farfarout.”
The small planet, officially named 2018 AG37, is nearly four hours farther from the sun than Pluto. It is the farthest planetoid ever discovered in our solar system, researchers announced this week.
Farfarout was first discovered in 2018, defeating the previous keeper, “Farout.” The team, which is responsible for each finding, has an ongoing survey to make a map outdoor solar system.
After being discovered at an 8-meter Subary telescope at the Maunakea atop in Hawaii, astronauts used Gemini North and Mageallan telescopes to track orbit over the past few years. In a few more years, once his orbit is discovered, Farfarout will be given an official name.
“Farfarout’s discovery demonstrates our growing ability to map the outer solar system and look farther and farther toward the periphery of our solar system,” said a member. of the discovery team Scott S. Sheppard. “It was only with the advances in recent years that large digital cameras on very large telescopes were able to effectively detect distant objects such as Farfarout. . “
Farfarout’s average distance from the sun is 132 celestial units, making it 132 times farther from the sun than Earth is. For comparison, Pluto is just 39 au from the sun.
NOIRLab / NSF / AURA / J. da Silva
Farfarout’s journey around the sun will take about 1,000 years. The planetoid, which is very faint, is thought to be about 250 miles across, at the small end of the dwarf planets and Pluto.
“One orbit of Farfarout will orbit the Sun a thousand years,” said member of the search team David Tholen. “Because of this long orbital, it moves slowly across the sky, requiring several years of observations to accurately determine its orbit.”
Interaction with Neptune depends on the planet’s vast long orbit. The orbit reaches 175 au at its farthest point and about 27 au, within Neptune’s orbit, at its closest point to the sun.
Neptune’s effects on Farfarout’s orbit also mean that the planet cannot contribute to scientists ’efforts to find an unknown mysterious planet that lies on the edge of the solar system.
“Farfarout’s orbital dynamics can help us understand how Neptune was created and developed, as Farfarout seemed to have been thrown into the outer solar system by getting too close to Neptune at the time. gone, “said a member of the search team Chad Trujillo.” Farfarout is likely to interact strongly with Neptune again as their orbits intersect. “
Scientists believe they will finally get a hypothesis “Planet nine. “
“Farfarout is just the tip of the iceberg of solar system objects in the far-flung solar system,” Sheppard said.