Makemake

Makemake is a dwarf planet in our solar system. It was discovered in 2005 and is named after the creator of humanity and god of fertility in the Rapa Nui mythology of Easter Island. Makemake is one of the largest known objects in the Kuiper Belt, a region of the outer solar system beyond the orbit of Neptune.

Characteristics of Makemake:

Size: Makemake has a diameter of about two-thirds that of Pluto, making it the second brightest object in the Kuiper Belt after Pluto.
Orbit: It takes Makemake about 309 Earth years to complete one orbit around the Sun. Its orbit is more elongated than that of Pluto.
Surface: Makemake's surface is covered in frozen methane, ethane, and possibly nitrogen. Its surface is reddish in color due to the presence of tholins, organic molecules formed by the irradiation of methane.
Atmosphere: Makemake likely has a tenuous atmosphere that may result from the sublimation of ices on its surface as it approaches the Sun.

Key Facts about Makemake:

Discovery: Makemake was discovered on March 31, 2005, by a team led by astronomer Michael E. Brown at the Palomar Observatory in California.
Classification: Makemake is classified as a dwarf planet, similar to Pluto, due to its size and characteristics.
Exploration: No spacecraft has visited Makemake, so most of our knowledge about this distant world comes from telescopic observations from Earth.

Study Guide:

As you study Makemake, consider the following questions to deepen your understanding:

What are the characteristics of Makemake's surface, and how do they compare to those of other objects in the outer solar system?
How does Makemake's orbit differ from that of the inner planets, and what factors contribute to its orbital dynamics?
What do we know about the composition of Makemake's atmosphere, and how does it interact with the dwarf planet's surface?
How was Makemake discovered, and what methods do astronomers use to study distant objects in the solar system?
What are the similarities and differences between Makemake and other dwarf planets, such as Pluto and Eris?

By exploring these questions, you can gain a comprehensive understanding of Makemake and its significance in the context of our solar system.

◂Science Worksheets and Study Guides Eighth Grade. Our Solar System

The resources above cover the following skills:

Earth/Space Science: Students will use scientific skills and processes to explain the chemical and physical interactions (i.e., natural forces and cycles, transfer of energy) of the environment, Earth, and the universe that occur over time.

Astronomy: Identify and describe the components of the universe.

Identify that our solar system is a component of the Milky Way Galaxy.

Astronomy: Identify and explain celestial phenomena using the regular and predictable motion of objects in the solar system.

Identify and describe how the shape and location of the orbits of asteroids and comets affect their periods of revolution.