It’s pronounced “mahkay-mahkay,” for the record. Just last month, the International Astronomical Union introduced the new subcategory of dwarf planets: the plutoid. Making full use of the new category, they’ve named the dwarf planet 2005 FY9 such an object and given it the name Makemake: the Polynesian creator of humanity and the god of fertility. Makemake is covered in red methane ice and is slightly smaller and dimmer than Pluto. It was discovered in 2005.
While the orbit of Makemake is not particularly unusual, the plutoid’s size is: about two-thirds the size of Pluto. Makemake’s orbit takes it from a distance of 53 AU (8 million km) to its closest point to the sun at 38.5 AU (5.75 million km). For comparison, the furthest extent of Pluto’s highly eccentric orbit is 49 AU (7.4 million km).
Along with Pluto and Eris, Makemake is one of our solar system’s three plutoids. Throw in Ceres, and you’ve got all four of our dwarf planets.
Artist’s conception of how Makemake may look up close.
It’s pronounced “mahkay-mahkay,” for the record. Just last month, the International Astronomical Union introduced the new subcategory of dwarf planets: the plutoid. Making full use of the new category, they’ve named the dwarf planet 2005 FY9 such an object and given it the name Makemake: the Polynesian creator of humanity and the god of fertility. Makemake is covered in red methane ice and is slightly smaller and dimmer than Pluto. It was discovered in 2005.
