Outer Solar System Origins Survey, Dwarf Planets and TNOs

In summary, OSSOS, a four-year project using the MegaPrime camera on the CFHT, has discovered nearly 1000 TNOs in the outer Solar System. One of the TNOs recently discovered is 2015 RR245, with an orbital period of ~700 years and a perihelion of ~34 AU. Back in 2011, there were five known dwarf planets in the Solar System: Pluto, Eris, Haumea, Makemake, and Ceres. However, with the discovery of Styx in 2012, Pluto now has five known moons. With the upcoming data from the LSST and Gaia, there is still much research to be done on these Kuiper Belt objects
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Astronuc
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"Nearly 1000 TNOs known to inhabit the outer Solar System have been discovered by OSSOS (or earlier CFEPS)." - OSSOS
http://www.ossos-survey.org/tnodb.html

"Started in February 2013, OSSOS is a four-year project using the MegaPrime camera, a 1x1 degree imager on the 3.6m Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT). The repeated tracking observations required to determine orbits are also obtained with the MegaPrime camera." - OSSOS
http://www.ossos-survey.org/about.html

Space.com has just published an announcement of a new TNO - 2015 RR245.
http://www.space.com/33387-dwarf-planet-discovery-2015-rr245.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2015_RR245

Not much information on 2015 RR245. Its orbital period is ~700 years. Perihelion ~34 AU (next ~ 2096), aphelion ~120 AU.

Back in 2011, Space.com published an article on Dwarf Planets.

Meet the Solar System's Dwarf Planets
http://www.space.com/12694-dwarf-planets-solar-system-tour-countdown.html
By Mike Wall, Space.com Senior Writer | October 26, 2011 02:00pm ET

In 2011, we had Pluto, Eris, Haumea, Makemake and Ceres

Caltech astronomer Mike Brown led the team that discovered Eris in 2005. The find spurred the IAU to strip Pluto of its planethood and create the "dwarf planet" category a year later.

Ceres is the only dwarf planet not found in the freezing cold, faraway Kuiper Belt.

Makemake is the second-brightest Kuiper Belt object (after Pluto)

Haumea has two known moons, Hi'iaka and Namaka

Eris has one known moon, Dysnomia

Pluto has four known moons: Charon, Nix, Hydra and a newly discovered tiny satellite currently called P4
By 2012, it was determined that Pluto has 5 moons: Charon, Styx, Nix, Kerberos, and Hydra.
Styx was discovered 2012/06/26.

Still a lot of research to be accomplished out there.
 
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Astronuc said:
Not much information on 2015 RR245. Its orbital period is ~700 years. Perihelion ~34 AU (next ~ 2096), aphelion ~120 AU.
This is about all the info I can find on RR245, http://cfht.hawaii.edu/en/news/NewDwarfPlanet/
When the LSST comes on line as well as the upcoming data dump from Gaia we will hopefully get an abundance of info on these KBO's
 
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What fractions of these newly discovered TNO's are considered to be Dwarf Planets?
 

1. What is the Outer Solar System Origins Survey (OSSOS)?

The Outer Solar System Origins Survey is a project that aims to study the origins and evolution of the outer solar system by observing and mapping the dwarf planets and trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) in our solar system.

2. What are dwarf planets and TNOs?

Dwarf planets are celestial bodies that are similar to planets in terms of size and composition, but have not cleared their orbit of other objects. TNOs are objects that orbit the sun beyond the orbit of Neptune.

3. How is the OSSOS project conducted?

The OSSOS project uses the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope to observe and track the motion of dwarf planets and TNOs. The data collected is then used to create maps and study the distribution and characteristics of these objects.

4. What can the study of dwarf planets and TNOs tell us about the outer solar system?

Studying these objects can provide insights into the formation and evolution of the outer solar system, as well as the history of our solar system. It can also help us understand the dynamics of the Kuiper Belt and the interactions between these objects and larger planets.

5. Are there any new discoveries or findings from the OSSOS project?

Yes, the OSSOS project has led to the discovery of several new dwarf planets and TNOs, as well as the identification of patterns and structures in the outer solar system. It has also provided evidence for a possible planet beyond Neptune, known as "Planet Nine".

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