Pluto Regains Its Title as Largest Object in the Edgeworth-Kuiper Belt

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SUMMARY

Pluto has regained its status as the largest object in the Edgeworth-Kuiper Belt, surpassing Eris according to new analyses. The upcoming NASA New Horizons spacecraft mission, scheduled for July 2015, will provide definitive measurements of Pluto's size. In contrast, Eris's diameter has been measured more accurately due to its lack of atmosphere, with a precision of plus or minus 12 kilometers based on a 2010 stellar occultation. The uncertainty surrounding Pluto's diameter is attributed to its atmospheric presence, complicating size measurements.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of celestial mechanics and the Edgeworth-Kuiper Belt
  • Familiarity with astronomical measurement techniques, specifically stellar occultation
  • Knowledge of planetary atmospheres and their effects on size measurements
  • Awareness of NASA's New Horizons mission and its objectives
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  • Research the results of NASA's New Horizons mission and its findings on Pluto
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  • Explore the characteristics of Eris and its comparison to Pluto
  • Investigate the implications of atmospheric effects on astronomical measurements
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Astronomers, planetary scientists, and space enthusiasts interested in the dynamics of the Edgeworth-Kuiper Belt and the ongoing debate regarding the classification of celestial bodies.

CygnusX-1
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Rejoice, Pluto fans!

Distant world surpasses its rival, Eris, in new analysis.

Link: ScienceNOW
 
Astronomy news on Phys.org
We'll get a final verdict in July 2015, when NASA's New Horizons spacecraft flies past Pluto and measures its exact size.

Guess we'll just have to wait and see :)
 
And then we'd still have to wait for the final final verdict until we send a spacecraft past Eris.
 
glappkaeft said:
And then we'd still have to wait for the final final verdict until we send a spacecraft past Eris.

Not really. Eris has no atmosphere, so the measurement of its diameter from the 2010 stellar occultation is much cleaner. If you follow the Eris link on the ScienceNOW story, you'll see the scientists claim they know the diameter to plus or minus 12 kilometers. The big problem is Pluto, which DOES have an atmosphere; that's why its diameter is so uncertain.
 

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