Facts for Kids
Makemake is a trans-Neptunian dwarf planet located in the Kuiper Belt, notable for its icy surface and discovery as part of the continued exploration of our solar system's outer regions.
Overview
Moons Of Makemake
Orbit And Rotation
Discovery And Naming
Cultural Significance
Physical Characteristics
Atmosphere And Surface Features
Future Exploration Possibilities
Comparison With Other Dwarf Planets
Inside this Article
California Institute Of Technology
Easter Island
New Horizons
Information
Kuiper Belt
Temperature
Astronomy
Asteroid
Orbit
Did you know?
🌌 Makemake is one of the largest known dwarf planets in our solar system.
🌑 It was discovered in 2005 and is named after the creator deity of the Rapa Nui people of Easter Island.
🪐 Makemake is located in the Kuiper Belt, a region filled with icy bodies beyond Neptune.
🌞 It is about three-quarters the size of Pluto, with a diameter of approximately 1,434 kilometers.
🌡️ The surface temperature of Makemake is estimated to be around -243 degrees Celsius.
⭐ It has a very thin atmosphere, primarily composed of methane.
🌐 Makemake does not have any known moons.
🔭 It is classified as a plutoid, similar to Pluto and Haumea.
🚀 It takes Makemake about 310 years to orbit the Sun once.
📏 Makemake's discovery was announced in July 2008 when it was classified as a dwarf planet by the International Astronomical Union.
Introduction
It was discovered in 2005 by astronomer Mike Brown and his team at the California Institute of Technology. Makemake is named after the creator god of the Rapa Nui people, who lived on Easter Island. Did you know that Makemake is the third-largest known dwarf planet in our solar system? It’s fascinating! 🌟
The discovery of Makemake helped scientists understand more about the Kuiper Belt and the objects that float in this icy region of space.
Moons Of Makemake
MK2 is about 1,300 kilometers (about 800 miles) wide, which makes it smaller than Makemake itself! It orbits Makemake and is relatively dark compared to its bright parent. Scientists are excited to study this moon because it can give them more information about Makemake’s history and the conditions in the Kuiper Belt. Exploring moons is important for understanding how planets and their satellites interact with each other in space! 🪐
Orbit And Rotation
This means that while it roams around the Sun, we walk around it many times. Makemake is located approximately 53.1 astronomical units (AU) away from the Sun. One AU is the distance from Earth to the Sun! 🚀
Makemake also spins very slowly. It takes about 22.5 hours to complete one rotation on its axis, which is similar to a day on Earth. That means a day on Makemake is a little longer than a day here!
Discovery And Naming
️♂️ The name "Makemake" was chosen in 2008, following its discovery. This name honors the Rapa Nui culture of Easter Island, where the god Makemake was believed to create humanity and the world. 🌎
The discovery of Makemake was a big deal! It was also recognized as a dwarf planet in 2008, along with Eris and Haumea. Scientists use special telescopes to find and study these distant objects, helping us learn more about our universe!
Cultural Significance
They believe that Makemake created humanity and the world. By naming the dwarf planet after this deity, it highlights the importance of indigenous cultures in science! This connection helps make astronomy more exciting and relatable. 🌏
People around the world can learn about different cultures while exploring space, showing how science can bridge different stories and traditions!
Physical Characteristics
Makemake has a bright surface made mostly of frozen methane and ice. Its color is reddish-brown, which is very unique! 🌈
Even though it’s far away from the Sun, Makemake reflects a lot of sunlight, making it one of the brightest objects in the Kuiper Belt. It also has a shape somewhat like a giant round ball, but it’s not perfectly round—more like a flattened sphere!
Atmosphere And Surface Features
️ Scientists believe that Makemake might not have a permanent atmosphere like Earth does because it’s too small. However, it can have some gases around it that change depending on the temperature. Some bright spots have been spotted on its surface, which could be made of frozen ethane. These features help scientists learn more about its geology! Scientists use powerful telescopes to study them, revealing clues about the icy world of Makemake.
Future Exploration Possibilities
No missions are planned specifically for Makemake yet, but scientists are very interested in studying it! They believe that missions like New Horizons, which visited Pluto, could provide valuable information about Makemake too! By sending probes to these distant worlds, we can discover more about their atmospheres, compositions, and histories, unveiling the secrets of the Kuiper Belt one day at a time! 🌌
Comparison With Other Dwarf Planets
Makemake is similar in size to Haumea but is brighter than both Haumea and Pluto. 🪐
At over 1,400 kilometers wide, it’s not as big as Pluto. Also, compared to Ceres, which is located in the asteroid belt, Makemake is much colder and more distant from the Sun. Learning about these differences helps scientists understand how unique each dwarf planet is and their roles in the solar system!
Makemake Quiz
Frequently Asked Questions
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