. Military Space News .
OUTER PLANETS
Astronomers spot most distant object in the solar system
by Brooks Hays
National Harbor, Md. (UPI) Nov 11, 2015


Currently, the object is perched on the outer edge of the Kuiper Belt, the debris-filled region where dwarf planets Pluto and Eris reside.

As of right now, it is the most distant object in the solar system, a sizable space rock 103 times farther away from the sun than the Earth.

The object remains unclassified, cataloged as V774104, and it could be one of the more exciting finds in years -- or it could be just another rock.

Researchers presented the object's discovery on Wednesday to attendees of the 47th annual meeting of the American Astronomical Society's Division for Planetary Sciences, currently being held outside of Washington, D.C.

Currently, the object is perched on the outer edge of the Kuiper Belt, the debris-filled region where dwarf planets Pluto and Eris reside. The object may inhabit the fringes of the Oort cloud, a distant theoretical protoplanetary disk of icy objects.

It's possible the mysterious object hasn't been disturbed for 4.5 billion years, untouched since the solar system's earliest beginnings. If so, it may offer astronomers a unique look at the conditions that birthed our planetary system.

It's also possible that V774104 follows an elliptical orbit and will soon veer much closer to the Sun. If that happens, the object will quickly become less interesting.

"There's no reason to be excited yet," Michael Brown, a planetary scientist at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, told Nature.

Astronomers have only identified two objects within the Oort cloud, Sedna and 2012 VP. Both objects swing into the Kuiper Belt for part of their orbits, their path around the sun influenced by the gravitational pull of Neptune.

If V774104 remains unaffected by Neptune, then it will be time to be excited.


Thanks for being here;
We need your help. The Space Media Network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceMediaNetwork Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal
SpaceMediaNetwork Monthly Supporter
$5 Billed Monthly


paypal only


.


Related Links
The million outer planets of a star called Sol






Comment on this article via your Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail login.

Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

Previous Report
OUTER PLANETS
Ammonia-Water Slurry May Swirl Below Pluto's Icy Surface
West Lafayette IN (SPX) Nov 10, 2015
Researchers propose an ammonia-water slurry as the basis for Pluto's newly discovered geologic activity and possible volcanism, and offer a new method to predict planetary vigor. The findings were presented at the annual meeting of the division for planetary sciences of the American Astronomical Society on Monday (Nov. 9) in National Harbor, Maryland. Graduate student Alex Trowbridge, unde ... read more


OUTER PLANETS
Putin: Russia Has Weapons Capable of Penetrating Any Missile Defenses

Lockheed Martin to build Ballistic Missile Defense radar

USS Ross intercepts ballistic missile during coalition test

Russia Calls on US to Abandon Plans to Place Missile Defense in Romania

OUTER PLANETS
Iran to receive Russian missiles by end of 2015: minister

Finland seeks acquisition of rocket launchers, rockets from U.S.

Russia to deliver S-300 missiles to Iran by the end of 2016

Russia says agrees deal to deliver S-300 missile systems to Iran

OUTER PLANETS
MIT students build a drone that doesn't crash into things so easy

Deal on using satellites for global flight-tracking in sight: US

Italy seeks to arm its MQ-9 Reapers

US Air Force renews ISR support contract with Raytheon

OUTER PLANETS
Harris Corporation Wins $40 Million Air Force Satellite Control Network Contract Extension

Commercialization is coming to WGS

DARPA's RadioMap Program Enters Third Phase

Raytheon producing FAB-T terminals for Air Force

OUTER PLANETS
U.S. Marines use vehicle recovery team for live-fire exercise

Report: U.S. Navy received almost 400 patents in fiscal 2015

Sniper Advanced Targeting Pods approved for Kuwait

Northrop Grumman delivers prototype shelters to U.S. Army

OUTER PLANETS
Orbital ATK and Boeing open offices in UAE

Bullets, cluster bombs at Thai arms fair despite censure over junta rule

Rosoboronexport touts business growth

Lockheed Martin, Boeing want answers on bomber contract award

OUTER PLANETS
U.S., Chinese naval forces conduct group passage exercise

Running mates: Bush 41 and 43's biggest mistakes?

Philippines pledges warm welcome for China's Xi despite sea row

Poland's PM-in-waiting taps controversial defence minister

OUTER PLANETS
Researchers build nanoscale autonomous walking machine from DNA

New way of computing with interaction-dependent nanomagnets

Finally a promising natural nanomaterial

Umbrella-shaped diamond nanostructures make efficient photon collectors









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.