S/2015 (136472) 1, nicknamed MK2 by the discovery team,[2] is the only known moon of the trans-Neptunian dwarf planet Makemake.[1][4][5] It is estimated to be 175 km (110 mi) in diameter (for an assumed albedo of 4%) and has a semi-major axis at least 21,000 km (13,000 mi) from Makemake.[1][6] Its orbital period is ≥ 12 days (the minimum values are those for a circular orbit; the actual orbital eccentricity is unknown).[7][1][5] Observations leading to its discovery occurred in April 2015, using the Hubble Space Telescope's Wide Field Camera 3, and its discovery was announced on 26 April 2016.[2]
A preliminary examination of the discovery imagery suggests that MK2 has a reflectivity similar to charcoal, making it an extremely dark object. This is somewhat surprising because Makemake is the second-brightest-known object in the Kuiper belt. One hypothesis to explain this is that its gravity is not strong enough to prevent bright but volatile ices from being lost to space when it is heated by the distant Sun.[8]
Alex Parker, the leader of the team that performed the analysis of the discovery images at the Southwest Research Institute, said that from the discovery images, MK2's orbit appears to be aligned edge-on to Earth-based observatories. This would make it difficult to detect because it would be lost in Makemake's glare much of the time, which, along with its dark surface, would contribute to previous surveys failing to observe it.[8] Observations taken in 2018 and 2019 may be enough to determine whether the orbit is close to circular, which would suggest that MK2 was formed by an ancient impact event, or if it is significantly elliptical, which would suggest that it was captured.[8]
The nickname 'MK2' simply means object 2 in the Makemake system. A permanent name may be chosen from an associated figure in the mythology of Easter Island.
Notesedit
^Absolute magnitude difference between the satellite and Makemake[3]
Referencesedit
^ abcdefgParker, A. H.; Buie, M. W.; Grundy, W. M.; Noll, K. S. (2016-04-25). "Discovery of a Makemakean Moon". The Astrophysical Journal. 825 (1): L9. arXiv:1604.07461. Bibcode:2016ApJ...825L...9P. doi:10.3847/2041-8205/825/1/L9. S2CID 119270442.
^ abc"HubbleSite – NewsCenter – Hubble Discovers Moon Orbiting the Dwarf Planet Makemake (04/26/2016) – The Full Story". hubblesite.org. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
^ abWilliam M. Grundy (13 February 2020). "Makemake (136472 2005 FY9)". Lowell Observatory. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
^Chang, Kenneth (26 April 2016). "Makemake, the Moonless Dwarf Planet, Has a Moon, After All". The New York Times. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
^ abParker, A. (2016-05-02). "A Moon for Makemake". Planetary Society blogs. Planetary Society. Retrieved 2016-05-02.
^"Hubble Spies A Moon Orbiting A Distant Dwarf Planet". Popular Science. 26 April 2016. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
^"Hubble discovers moon orbiting the dwarf planet Makemake". EurekAlert!. 26 April 2016. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
^ abcMike Wall (26 April 2016). "Distant Dwarf Planet Makemake Has Its Own Moon". Space.com. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
2015, 136472, nicknamed, discovery, team, only, known, moon, trans, neptunian, dwarf, planet, makemake, estimated, diameter, assumed, albedo, semi, major, axis, least, from, makemake, orbital, period, days, minimum, values, those, circular, orbit, actual, orbi. S 2015 136472 1 nicknamed MK2 by the discovery team 2 is the only known moon of the trans Neptunian dwarf planet Makemake 1 4 5 It is estimated to be 175 km 110 mi in diameter for an assumed albedo of 4 and has a semi major axis at least 21 000 km 13 000 mi from Makemake 1 6 Its orbital period is 12 days the minimum values are those for a circular orbit the actual orbital eccentricity is unknown 7 1 5 Observations leading to its discovery occurred in April 2015 using the Hubble Space Telescope s Wide Field Camera 3 and its discovery was announced on 26 April 2016 2 S 2015 136472 1Makemake and its moon arrow Discovery 1 Discovered byHST Wide Field Camera 3 Alex H Parker Marc W Buie William M Grundy Keith S NollDiscovery dateApril 2015DesignationsAlternative namesMK2 unofficial 2 Orbital characteristics 1 Semi major axis gt 21000 kmEccentricityunknownOrbital period sidereal gt 12 4 daysSatellite ofMakemakePhysical characteristicsMean radius 87 5 km for an assumed albedo of 4 1 Albedo 0 10 04 1 Apparent magnitude25 0 3 Absolute magnitude H 7 8 a Contents 1 Observations 2 Name 3 Notes 4 References 5 External linksObservations editA preliminary examination of the discovery imagery suggests that MK2 has a reflectivity similar to charcoal making it an extremely dark object This is somewhat surprising because Makemake is the second brightest known object in the Kuiper belt One hypothesis to explain this is that its gravity is not strong enough to prevent bright but volatile ices from being lost to space when it is heated by the distant Sun 8 Alex Parker the leader of the team that performed the analysis of the discovery images at the Southwest Research Institute said that from the discovery images MK2 s orbit appears to be aligned edge on to Earth based observatories This would make it difficult to detect because it would be lost in Makemake s glare much of the time which along with its dark surface would contribute to previous surveys failing to observe it 8 Observations taken in 2018 and 2019 may be enough to determine whether the orbit is close to circular which would suggest that MK2 was formed by an ancient impact event or if it is significantly elliptical which would suggest that it was captured 8 Name editSee also Makemake deity The nickname MK2 simply means object 2 in the Makemake system A permanent name may be chosen from an associated figure in the mythology of Easter Island Notes edit Absolute magnitude difference between the satellite and Makemake 3 References edit a b c d e f g Parker A H Buie M W Grundy W M Noll K S 2016 04 25 Discovery of a Makemakean Moon The Astrophysical Journal 825 1 L9 arXiv 1604 07461 Bibcode 2016ApJ 825L 9P doi 10 3847 2041 8205 825 1 L9 S2CID 119270442 a b c HubbleSite NewsCenter Hubble Discovers Moon Orbiting the Dwarf Planet Makemake 04 26 2016 The Full Story hubblesite org Retrieved 14 July 2022 a b William M Grundy 13 February 2020 Makemake 136472 2005 FY9 Lowell Observatory Retrieved 20 February 2020 Chang Kenneth 26 April 2016 Makemake the Moonless Dwarf Planet Has a Moon After All The New York Times Retrieved 26 April 2016 a b Parker A 2016 05 02 A Moon for Makemake Planetary Society blogs Planetary Society Retrieved 2016 05 02 Hubble Spies A Moon Orbiting A Distant Dwarf Planet Popular Science 26 April 2016 Retrieved 26 April 2016 Hubble discovers moon orbiting the dwarf planet Makemake EurekAlert 26 April 2016 Retrieved 26 April 2016 a b c Mike Wall 26 April 2016 Distant Dwarf Planet Makemake Has Its Own Moon Space com Retrieved 26 April 2016 External links editMPEC 2016 H46 S 2015 136472 1 Minor Planet Center 26 April 2016 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title S 2015 136472 1 amp oldid 1223015190, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
