Discover the 3rd largest dwarf planet in the solar system

Researchers believe that the diameter of 2007 OR10 is 1,535km. At this size, 2007 OR10 will be the third largest dwarf planet in the solar system.

A team of astronomers used data from two space telescopes and discovered a dwarf planet called 2007 OR10 that was much larger than previously envisioned. They claim that this is the third largest dwarf planet in the Pluto Solar System (Pluto) and Eris.

Previously, astronomers used infrared data from the Herschel space telescope to observe the 2007 OR10 planet. They estimated this dwarf planet has a diameter of about 1,280km. However, this estimate was made without data on 2007 rotation time of OR10, an important factor for astronomers to speculate about the size of the object.

Picture 1 of Discover the 3rd largest dwarf planet in the solar system
Researchers believe that the diameter of 2007 OR10 is 1,535km.With this size, 2007 OR10 will be the third largest dwarf planet in the solar system.

If there is a lack of data on the rotation time of an object, the light discovered by a telescope can lead to inaccurate estimates of a planet, as is the case in 2007 OR10.

Recent studies based on infrared data from the Herschel telescope and light data collected by the Kepler spacecraft - have been tasked with observing 2007 OR10 for about 19 days at the end of 2014. The combination of data sets allows astronomers to recognize some of the characteristics of this distant planet.

Researchers believe that the diameter of 2007 OR10 is 1,535km, 200km longer than previously envisioned. The team believes that the 2007 dwarf planet OR10 is dark red because its surface is covered with burnt ice (methane ices) , carbon monoxide and nitrogen.

Astronomers now have some more information about the 2007 OR10 planet and it's time they need to give the planet a more memorable name.

The largest dwarf planets of the Solar System are now Pluto (diameter of 2.374km) and Eris (2,326km). The International Astronomical Association has officially recognized that five dwarf planets exist in the solar system.