Name for 2003 EL61, Welcome Haumea, Hi'iaka, and Namaka to the Solar System Options

[volcanopele]

No, it's not Santa (or was this one Easter Bunny). Everyone's favorite egg-shaped world now has a name: Haumea, from Hawaiian mythology. Haumea's two moons have been named Hi'iaka (still one of my favorite volcanoes on Io, along with Gish Bar, Thor, and Tvashtar) and Namaka, both daughters of Haumea. Of course, this opens up the possibility that a third moon would be named Pele.

Definitely prefer this to Makemake.

[Ron Hobbs]

Astronomers caught an occultation by one of the fragments of that giant impact last October. The findings were published in Nature June 17. Scientist see billions of miles away.

The fragment is 55636 2002 TX300. They found that the KBO is much smaller than expected, 286 km in diameter, and covered with bright ice. The article linked above says it is "the shiniest object in the solar system, reflecting 88 % of the light that hits it," but I am pretty sure that honor goes to Enceladus.

The authors suggest that dynamical studies indicate the impact happened a billion years ago, but that raises the question of why the ice is still so bright. Something I read raised the idea that it might be venting like Enceladus.

Note: I put this in the naming of Haumea thread because it is a part of the Haumea family. Seem like a reasonable place to keep it.