Historical Events tagged with "kuiper belt"

Turns out history loves a label—battles, breakthroughs, and the occasional disaster, all neatly tagged for your browsing pleasure. Because sometimes you just need every weird invention in one place.

Space Exploration

Discovery of Pluto's Nix and Hydra Moons

May 18th, 2005 19 years ago

Astronomers utilizing the Hubble Space Telescope confirmed the existence of two additional moons orbiting Pluto, named Nix and Hydra. This finding expanded our understanding of Pluto's satellite system, revealing that it is more complex than previously thought. Nix and Hydra were detected through a series of observations aimed at studying Pluto's environment and its outer solar system companions. The discovery took place after detailed imaging sessions that showcased the moons' faint brightness against the vast darkness of space.

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Space Exploration

Discovery of Dwarf Planet Eris

January 5th, 2005 20 years ago

Astronomers at Palomar Observatory discovered Eris, a dwarf planet in the outer solar system. Located beyond Pluto, Eris is noteworthy for being one of the largest known dwarf planets and contributed to the debate on what constitutes a planet. Its discovery sparked a reevaluation of planetary definitions by the International Astronomical Union (IAU).

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Space Exploration

Pluto Enters Neptune's Orbit for the First Time

February 7th, 1979 46 years ago

Pluto moved inside Neptune's orbit in 1979, a rare astronomical event due to its elliptical orbit. This positioning brought the two celestial bodies closer, allowing scientists to study their interactions. Both Pluto and Neptune were discovered in the 20th century, and this alignment highlighted the unique characteristics of their orbits and the dynamics of the solar system.

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