In between Mars and Jupiter is an area called the astroid belt. It is regarded as the bone yard of the solar system all the left over particles that did not form into planets. The largest object within this area is a small planet called Ceres. Ceres is known as a dwarf planet and is one of five in the solar system.
A dwarf planet is an object that orbits the sun and is rounded, it is not however a planet on the basis that it has not cleared its own orbit of all objects of a similar size. Pluto was striped of its planet status as its orbit path is to full due to the kyper belt.
Ceres
Has a rocky core and an ice mantle there is therefor a possibility that liquid water could flow beneath its surface. Something that NASA's recent dawn mission hopes to unearth. SEE VIDEO BELOW !!
Named after the god of the underworld due to its distance from the sun. Pluto has an egg shaped orbit and was effectively striped of its planet status by professor Mike Brown in jan 2005 after the discovery of Eris.
ErisThe largest Dwarf planet discovered by Mike Brown 2005, its is considered a TNO trans Neptunian object. |
| Makemake Named after the Rapanui god Makemake. |
Haumea
Haumea is unique due to its shape it has a slight curvature giving the dwarf planet the appearance of an american football.
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