The space administration discovered 2 new planets in 2004. I'm not sure whether they have names yet. If anybody knows the names of the new planets, could you please let me know.
2006-08-29 12:11:05 · 5 answers · asked by scrillahead216 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
one is Xena
2006-08-29 12:13:51 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You perhaps dont know that there are some 800 or more Kuiper Belt Objects been discovered since 1992, several of which (larger ones) were candidates to be regarded as planets, at the recent IAU conference, so it isn't the case that just two new planets have been discovered,
Naming takes time, Xena is a temporary nickname for an object that is stil mainly referred to by a number till it is given a name, Names are conferred according to certain naming conventions, there isn't a free choice.
2006-08-29 20:06:47 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
You mean Kuiper Belt Objects, I think, not planets. And they were discovered by astronomers, not by "the space administration" by which I assume you mean NASA.
Oh, and NASA doesn't get to name solar system objects, either. That's left up to the International Astronomical Union (IAU), the same ones who just came up with a scientific definition of the word "planet".
2006-08-29 19:17:07 · answer #3 · answered by kris 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well, they aren't planets anymore. However, one is named Sedna. The other, more recent one was tentatively named Xena, but that's not the official name.
2006-08-29 19:14:13 · answer #4 · answered by DakkonA 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sedna and Quaror were never considered planets,just planetoids.
2006-08-29 19:35:02 · answer #5 · answered by That one guy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋