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The concept of human exploration of dwarf planets has intrigued scientists since Pluto's discovery in 1930. Despite the vast distances and significant challenges, advancements in space technology could make such endeavors possible. Colonizing dwarf planets offers potential economic benefits due to the presence of rare and valuable ores. [23]
The term dwarf planet was coined by planetary scientist Alan Stern [citation needed] as part of a three-way categorization of planetary-mass objects in the Solar System: classical planets, dwarf planets, and satellite planets. Dwarf planets were thus conceived of as a category of planet.
Counter-Earth, a planet situated on the other side of the Sun from that of the Earth. Fifth planet (hypothetical), historical speculation about a planet between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. Phaeton, a planet situated between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter whose destruction supposedly led to the formation of the asteroid belt. This hypothesis ...
The number of dwarf planets in the Solar System is unknown. Estimates have run as high as 200 in the Kuiper belt [1] and over 10,000 in the region beyond. [2] However, consideration of the surprisingly low densities of many large trans-Neptunian objects, as well as spectroscopic analysis of their surfaces, suggests that the number of dwarf planets may be much lower, perhaps only nine among ...
The largest known trans-Neptunian objects are Pluto and Eris, followed by Haumea, Makemake, Gonggong, Quaoar, Sedna, and Orcus, all of them being officially recognized as dwarf planets by the IAU except for Gonggong, Sedna, and Orcus. There are also many possible dwarf planets, such as Salacia, (307261) 2002 MS 4, Varda, Ixion, and Varuna.
The following is a list of numbered minor planets (essentially the same as asteroids) in ascending numerical order. Minor planets are defined as small bodies in the Solar System, including asteroids, distant objects, and dwarf planets, but not including comets. The catalog consists of hundreds of pages, each containing 1,000 minor planets.
The newly-found ETNO joins Sedna, a dwarf planet believed to be about 250 AU from the sun, as objects residing outside the Kuiper Belt, where Pluto resides, according to Space.
About 6% of white dwarfs show infrared excess due to a disk around a white dwarf. [69] In the past only a relative small sample of white dwarf disks was known. [70] Due to advances in white dwarf detection (e.g. with Gaia or LAMOST) and improvement of WISE infrared catalogs with unWISE/CatWISE, the number has increased to hundreds of candidates.