Haumea

Haumea is a dwarf planet located in the Kuiper Belt, a region of the solar system beyond the orbit of Neptune. It was discovered in 2004 by a team of astronomers led by Mike Brown at the Palomar Observatory in California.

Characteristics

• Size: Haumea is about one-third the size of Earth, making it one of the largest known dwarf planets.
• Shape: Haumea is elongated, with its long axis being about 2,000 kilometers longer than its short axis. This shape is believed to be the result of its rapid rotation.
• Surface: Haumea's surface is composed of crystalline water ice, giving it a highly reflective surface.
• Moons: Haumea has two known moons, Hi'iaka and Namaka, which were discovered in 2005 and 2005, respectively.

Orbit and Rotation

Haumea has a highly elongated orbit that takes it from about 35 AU (astronomical units) from the Sun at its closest to nearly 51 AU at its farthest. It takes Haumea about 285 years to complete one orbit around the Sun. Additionally, Haumea has a rapid rotation period of about 3.9 hours, making it one of the fastest rotating large bodies in the solar system.

Study Guide

1. When was Haumea discovered, and by whom?
2. What is the size of Haumea compared to Earth?
3. What gives Haumea its elongated shape?
4. What is the composition of Haumea's surface?
5. How many moons does Haumea have, and what are their names?
6. What is Haumea's orbital distance from the Sun at its closest and farthest points?
7. How long does it take Haumea to complete one orbit around the Sun?
8. What is Haumea's rotation period?