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

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the recent analysis suggesting that Pluto has regained its status as the largest object in the Edgeworth-Kuiper Belt, surpassing Eris. Participants explore the implications of this finding, the upcoming measurements from NASA's New Horizons spacecraft, and the challenges associated with accurately determining the sizes of these distant celestial bodies.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express excitement over Pluto's potential to be the largest object in the Edgeworth-Kuiper Belt based on new analysis.
  • One participant notes that definitive measurements of Pluto's size will come from NASA's New Horizons spacecraft in July 2015.
  • Another participant points out that a final determination regarding Eris's size will also require a spacecraft mission, suggesting that measurements from the 2010 stellar occultation provide a clearer estimate for Eris due to its lack of atmosphere.
  • It is mentioned that the presence of Pluto's atmosphere complicates the accuracy of its size measurements, leading to greater uncertainty compared to Eris.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the implications of the findings, as there are competing views regarding the accuracy of size measurements for both Pluto and Eris.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the uncertainty in Pluto's diameter due to its atmosphere and the reliance on past measurements for Eris, which may not be definitive until further missions are conducted.

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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