Makemake planet has no atmosphere as expected

The little planet Makemake has no atmosphere, this distant icy world revealed its secret for the first time.

The small planet Makemake is about two-thirds the size of Pluto, and rotates around the sun in a distant orbit on the other side of Pluto planet, but closer to the sun than the planet Eris, is The smallest planet is known in the solar system. Previous observations of the cold Makemake planet have shown it to be like small planets similar to it, making some astronomers hope its atmosphere, if any, will be like the atmosphere of Pluto. However, recent research has shown that, like Eris, Makemake is not surrounded by a significant atmosphere.

The team, led by Jose Luis Ortiz (Instituto de Astrofisica de Andalucia, CSIC, Spain), incorporates many observations using three telescopes at La Silla of ESO and Paranal observation positions at Chile - Huge telescope (Very Large Telescope (VLT), New technology telescope (NTT), and TRAPPIST (Transiting Planets and PlanetesImals Small Telescope) with data from other small telescopes in South America, to observe Makemake when it crosses in front of a distant star.

"When Makemake passes in front of the star and blocks it, the star disappears and comes back very suddenly, rather than fading and glowing gradually. This means that the little planet Makemake has no atmosphere. significant , " said Jose Luis Ortiz. It was thought that Makemake had a good ability to develop an atmosphere, but in fact it was not.

Small planet Makemake

Makemake lacks the moon and its distance from us makes this planet difficult to study, and what little we know about it is only approximate. The team's new observations provide more detail about Makemake - determining its size more accurately, knowing its atmosphere and first estimating the planet's thickness. They have also allowed astronomers to measure the amount of sunlight reflected by the planet. Makemake's reflected light rate is about 0.77, which is equivalent to the reflection of the light of dirty snow, higher than that of Pluto but lower than that of Eris.

It is possible to observe such details of Makemake because the planet passes in front of a star - a phenomenon known as obscurity.

Rare opportunities allow astronomers to first learn more about the sometimes fragile and sensitive atmosphere around these important but distant planets, members of the solar system, and the Very accurate information about their properties.

Obscurity is especially rare in the case of Makemake because it moves in a region of the sky that has relatively few stars. Accurate forecasts and the discovery of rare events are extremely difficult and successfully observed by a coordinated observation group, scattered at many locations throughout South America, ranked as a major achievement. .

'Pluto, Eris and Makemake are planets among the frozen planets with orbits away from the sun' . Jose Luis Ortiz said. "Our new observations have greatly improved our knowledge of Makemake - we can use this information as we explore other fascinating objects within the space. further".

Makemake was originally known in 2005 as FY9. It was discovered a few days after Easter in March 2005, and was cordially called Easterbunny. In July 2008, it was officially named Makemake. Makemake is the creator of mankind and the fertility god in the myths of indigenous people on Easter Island.

Up to now, Makemake is one of five small planets recognized by the International Astronomical Association. Other planets are Ceres, Pluto, Haumea and Eris.