Huge rock-ice body circles Sun
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Huge rock-ice body circles Sun
By Dr David Whitehouse
BBC News Online science editor
Astronomers have found a large object orbiting the Sun near Neptune's orbit.
It was discovered on Friday by an automated sky survey project designed to search for threatening asteroids that may be on an Earth impact course.
The object is about 570 km across, making it one of the largest bodies of its kind found in modern times.
The new body, made of rock and ice, is designated 2003 VS2. Re-examining past records, astronomers have found it in images taken as far back as 1998.
Resonance orbit
The object is one of the largest yet found in the Kuiper Belt, a region of space littered with small rocky worlds orbiting the Sun.
It was discovered by the automated Near Earth Asteroid Tracking (Neat) project using a large telescope at Mount Palomar in California, US.
KUIPER BELT OBJECTS
Icy planetary bodies that orbit beyond Neptune in the distant region of the Solar System
More than 400 such objects are currently known
They are believed to be remnants of the formation of the Solar System and among the most primitive objects available for study
It is in a so-called resonance orbit with Neptune. This means that it completes two orbits of the Sun for every three completed by the eighth planet.
Such orbits are stable as they allow the object to approach Neptune's orbit without any possibility of collision. Pluto, currently the most distant true planet, is in such an orbit.
Because of the similarity astronomers have classified 2003 VS2 as the latest "Plutino", or "little Pluto". Dave Jewitt of the Institute for Astronomy of the University of Hawaii told BBC News Online that this Plutino was probably among the top ten Kuiper Belt objects found so far.
Since the first Kuiper Belt Object was discovered in 1992, several hundred have been found, and many of them are in the Neptune resonance condition, too.
By Dr David Whitehouse
BBC News Online science editor
Astronomers have found a large object orbiting the Sun near Neptune's orbit.
It was discovered on Friday by an automated sky survey project designed to search for threatening asteroids that may be on an Earth impact course.
The object is about 570 km across, making it one of the largest bodies of its kind found in modern times.
The new body, made of rock and ice, is designated 2003 VS2. Re-examining past records, astronomers have found it in images taken as far back as 1998.
Resonance orbit
The object is one of the largest yet found in the Kuiper Belt, a region of space littered with small rocky worlds orbiting the Sun.
It was discovered by the automated Near Earth Asteroid Tracking (Neat) project using a large telescope at Mount Palomar in California, US.
KUIPER BELT OBJECTS
Icy planetary bodies that orbit beyond Neptune in the distant region of the Solar System
More than 400 such objects are currently known
They are believed to be remnants of the formation of the Solar System and among the most primitive objects available for study
It is in a so-called resonance orbit with Neptune. This means that it completes two orbits of the Sun for every three completed by the eighth planet.
Such orbits are stable as they allow the object to approach Neptune's orbit without any possibility of collision. Pluto, currently the most distant true planet, is in such an orbit.
Because of the similarity astronomers have classified 2003 VS2 as the latest "Plutino", or "little Pluto". Dave Jewitt of the Institute for Astronomy of the University of Hawaii told BBC News Online that this Plutino was probably among the top ten Kuiper Belt objects found so far.
Since the first Kuiper Belt Object was discovered in 1992, several hundred have been found, and many of them are in the Neptune resonance condition, too.
This is Ice that is made of water? There is water outside of this planet? I was under the assumption that only earth had water.
Europa, one of Jupiter's moons, is thought to have oceans of water under a think ice surface, heated by the gravitational forces of being so close to Jupiter...Triton, one of Neptune's moons, is also a candidate for Water, as is Titan, a Saturn moon.......also, there is water on Mars (likely frozen)...so no, Earth isn't the only place with water, even in our own solar system.
Originally posted by: Insane3D
Doesn't the bible tell you all you need to know?
haha. God I love his stupidity sometimes.
The water on earth came from space. In fact, we get more water each year from asteriods made of ice. I'm not sure how much water...its not really a significant amount year to year, but over a billion or so years, things add up.
But... the Earth is only 6,000 years old.Originally posted by: FallenHero
Originally posted by: Insane3D
Doesn't the bible tell you all you need to know?
haha. God I love his stupidity sometimes.
The water on earth came from space. In fact, we get more water each year from asteriods made of ice. I'm not sure how much water...its not really a significant amount year to year, but over a billion or so years, things add up.
We all know that the Grand Canyon formed in 6,000 years.
We all know it takes less than 6,000 years for crude oil to form.
We all know it takes less than 6,000 years for fossils to form.
We all know it took less than 6,000 years for the mountain range 50 miles east of me to form.
We all know it took less than 6,000 years for Hawaii to form..
Originally posted by: Eli
But... the Earth is only 6,000 years old.Originally posted by: FallenHero
Originally posted by: Insane3D
Doesn't the bible tell you all you need to know?
haha. God I love his stupidity sometimes.
The water on earth came from space. In fact, we get more water each year from asteriods made of ice. I'm not sure how much water...its not really a significant amount year to year, but over a billion or so years, things add up.
We all know that the Grand Canyon formed in 6,000 years.
We all know it takes less than 6,000 years for crude oil to form.
We all know it takes less than 6,000 years for fossils to form.
We all know it took less than 6,000 years for the mountain range 50 miles east of me to form.
We all know it took less than 6,000 years for Hawaii to form..
And 6000 years for the Continents to split up
6000 years for atlantis to sink
6000 years to have rocks that date back millions of years to form...oh wait
nah, other planets have water, and some planets HAD water which can be proven by geographic features. I think one was either Venus or Mars. (or maybe both, i cant remember)
squirrel dog
Diamond Member
- Oct 10, 1999
- 5,564
- 48
- 91
Originally posted by: FallenHero
Originally posted by: Insane3D
Doesn't the bible tell you all you need to know?
haha. God I love his stupidity sometimes.
The water on earth came from space. In fact, we get more water each year from asteriods made of ice. I'm not sure how much water...its not really a significant amount year to year, but over a billion or so years, things add up.
Almost all the water on earth came from underground, not from asteroids after the earth was formed. After an object collided with the earth, water was evaporated from the surface but also trapped in the mantle and core. Volcanic activity brought it up. Example? Old Faithful.
Originally posted by: FallenHero
Originally posted by: Eli
But... the Earth is only 6,000 years old.Originally posted by: FallenHero
Originally posted by: Insane3D
Doesn't the bible tell you all you need to know?
haha. God I love his stupidity sometimes.
The water on earth came from space. In fact, we get more water each year from asteriods made of ice. I'm not sure how much water...its not really a significant amount year to year, but over a billion or so years, things add up.
We all know that the Grand Canyon formed in 6,000 years.
We all know it takes less than 6,000 years for crude oil to form.
We all know it takes less than 6,000 years for fossils to form.
We all know it took less than 6,000 years for the mountain range 50 miles east of me to form.
We all know it took less than 6,000 years for Hawaii to form..
And 6000 years for the Continents to split up
6000 years for atlantis to sink
6000 years to have rocks that date back millions of years to form...oh wait
A girl I know asked why it couldn't be that the earth was made like it was old. You can't argue with logic like that.
I think I know what you're thinking:
There is plenty of water ice in space - but very, very little liquid water. In the huge range of tempratures found in the universe, water is only liquid in a very narrow temp/pressure range. It either exists as ice, like on the poles of Mars - or water vapor, like in the atmosphere of Venus. So a planet has to be just the right mass, and just the right distance from its sun, to have a significant amount of liquid water. Too little mass = too little atmospheric pressure=water boils away. Too far away from sun = too cold=water freezes. Too close = too hot=water boils away.
Until we get there and terraform the planet to a point where water can be contained in a liquid state
Yep. The earth is unique, or at least a special case, because we have all three physical states of water occuring naturally here. Solid, liquid, gas.
Jeff7181
Lifer
- Aug 21, 2002
- 18,368
- 11
- 81
I think it's a bit odd that scientists are looking for water as a sign of life. I understand it though, since water is necessary for life as we know it. I just think water isn't the ONLY thing necessary for life, and it may even be harmful to some life that we aren't aware of yet. There could be life forms on other planets, in other solar systems, in other galaxies where liquid helium is necessary for life. But since we don't know of any, nobody is looking for any because we'd have no idea what kind of life to look for swimming in a pool of liquid helium =) I mean, who's to say this planet isn't an oddity? Maybe other life needs extremely cold temperatures to survive, and they'd die from the extreme heat on our planet... or maybe other life needs extremely hot temperatures to survive, and they'd freeze on our planet. Maybe there's little green men living inside the sun
that's what I believe. universe was created with the appearance of age. believing in a higher power takes faith (no argument there) and this is one of things I have to have faith in.
been watching "Signs"?Originally posted by: Jeff7181
I think it's a bit odd that scientists are looking for water as a sign of life. I understand it though, since water is necessary for life as we know it. I just think water isn't the ONLY thing necessary for life, and it may even be harmful to some life that we aren't aware of yet. There could be life forms on other planets, in other solar systems, in other galaxies where liquid helium is necessary for life. But since we don't know of any, nobody is looking for any because we'd have no idea what kind of life to look for swimming in a pool of liquid helium =) I mean, who's to say this planet isn't an oddity? Maybe other life needs extremely cold temperatures to survive, and they'd die from the extreme heat on our planet... or maybe other life needs extremely hot temperatures to survive, and they'd freeze on our planet. Maybe there's little green men living inside the sun
Originally posted by: yllus
I vote for blowing it up with a nuke. You know. Just 'cause that would be cool.
w00t!! I second that idea.
Jeff7181
Lifer
- Aug 21, 2002
- 18,368
- 11
- 81
Originally posted by: GtPrOjEcTX
been watching "Signs"?Originally posted by: Jeff7181
I think it's a bit odd that scientists are looking for water as a sign of life. I understand it though, since water is necessary for life as we know it. I just think water isn't the ONLY thing necessary for life, and it may even be harmful to some life that we aren't aware of yet. There could be life forms on other planets, in other solar systems, in other galaxies where liquid helium is necessary for life. But since we don't know of any, nobody is looking for any because we'd have no idea what kind of life to look for swimming in a pool of liquid helium =) I mean, who's to say this planet isn't an oddity? Maybe other life needs extremely cold temperatures to survive, and they'd die from the extreme heat on our planet... or maybe other life needs extremely hot temperatures to survive, and they'd freeze on our planet. Maybe there's little green men living inside the sun
No, why?
as mentioned above europa is also thought to have liquid water. sure it's far away from the sun, but it has an INTERNAL source of heat, friction from it's mantle due to jupiter's gravitational force.
yay for finding life in europa!
yay for finding life in europa!
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