2003 Ub 313: The Incredible Shrinking Planet?, No bigger than Pluto? Options

[Guest_BruceMoomaw_*]

(Thanks to Emily Lakdawalla):

http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2006/127/1

[SigurRosFan]

Here's the detailed press release:

- http://www.unmannedspaceflight.com/index.p...indpost&p=39431

--- Note on reports of an HST size measurement (31.1.)

Mike Brown gave a public talk recently where he presented some preliminary results [Albedo 0.92 news] on an attempt to measure the size of UB313 with the Hubble Space Telescope. A journalist picked this up and reported it, against Mike Brown's explicit request. In response to this report Mike Brown stated on Jan 31:

"Contrary to rumors otherwise, we're just in the preliminary stages of analyzing the HST data. When we are done we should have a very precise measurement. The study that is coming out in Nature is the best info that we have for now about how big and reflective it is. The uncertainties are large, but it seems a solid result to me. I hope that we will have the HST analysis done within perhaps a month, and I'll be able to say more then." ---

[Rob Pinnegar]

A journalist picked this up and reported it, against Mike Brown's explicit request.

Yeah, you can always trust the discretion of the media. Hey, they wouldn't deliberately misinform the public just to sell newspapers!