Haumea is another dwarf planet that was discovered to be orbiting beyond Pluto in 2003. It was discovered by a group of American astronomers at Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory.
Haumea is an unusual dwarf planet with a rapid rotational period that spans approximately 3.92 hours and an orbital period of 285.46 years. It has a radius of around 385 miles. Another anomaly in Haumea is the fact that it has a rocky interior with a thin layer of water ice covering it. The dark red spot on the surface may be a, recently created, impact crater that shows the planet’s internal structure.
Moons
There are two moons belonging to Haumea. The largest one is Ha’iaka which has an orbital period of 49 Earth days and a rotation spanning 9.8 hours. And the smaller one, Namaka has an orbital period of 18 days. Both of Haumea’s moons have a covering of water ice.
Rings
It has been newly discovered, in 2017 by astronomers, that Haumea has a ring around it that is about 40 miles wide and at a radius of 1,421 miles from it. Haumea is also the farthest-located body, and the only dwarf planet in the Kuiper belt, to have a ring.
Why Does Haumea Spin So Fast
The reason why Haumea spins so fast is that it was in a collision with another celestial object when it was newly formed. That, in turn, propelled its rotational speed. This collision also disintegrated all f the ice that was covering the planet which is the reason behind one of the anomalies described previously..
The Wrap Up
In conclusion, we have found out that Haumea is certainly one-of-a-kind. At least as of today, there have been no other planets or dwarf planets with similar characteristics. It has been fun and interesting exploring this little know dwarf planet and finding out why Haumea spins so fast in comparison to its counterparts.
If you have learned something new or exciting, please let me know in the comment section below.
There is so much more that remains unknown in both space and time. I will keep exploring the possibilities and sharing my experiences with you here.
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All Images Are Courtesy of NASA
References
NASA. (2020, March 11). Haumea. Retrieved from NASA: https://www.britannica.com/place/Haumea
You have added another star to my cap. It is the first time I am learning about Haumea and its unique properties. Knowing that this terrestrial body is only 40 miles wide and the farthest located body and that it also comes ring is highly fascinating. Top of it is its early collision with another terrestrial body that has aided it in spinning fast
Hello Parameter,
I am happy to see you again. I appreciate your continued interest in my articles. I am glad to know that I am providing a learning experience for you and that you enjoy yourself.
I was also fascinated by the effect that the collision had on Haumea.
Have a wonderful day!
Thanks for such an interesting article. Well I’ve only come to the realization that there were only nine planets on our solar system. Never have I heard of a planet called Haumea. It’s quite interesting to know that there are other planets that scientists are still yet to discover. I must say this article was really helpful.
Hello Apexvilla,
It is so lovely to hear from you once again. I appreciate your continued readership.
You are most welcome!
I also find it interesting that the science community can and does recategorize the criteria whenever they need to. And so far, I have found that we have not only the typical planets in our solar system but also dwarf planets and Exoplanets beyond our solar system.
Have a wonderful day!
Thank you so much for writing this informative article about Haumea! I really enjoyed learning about its unique characteristics, such as its rapid rotational period and the fact that it has a ring around it. Your explanation of why Haumea spins so fast was especially interesting to me. Keep up the great work!
Hello Leo,
You are more than welcome. I am still exploring and learning and am excited to see what is discovered next.
I hope to see you again along my journey of exploration.
Merry Christmas / Happy Hanukkah & Happy New Year To You & Yours.
Have a wonderful Holiday Season!