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Dwarf Planet Gets a Name

Smaller than Pluto, Makemake is covered in frozen methane

By Dustin Lushing, Newser Staff

Posted Jul 22, 2008 10:17 AM CDT

(Newser) – The neighborhood of the solar system beyond Neptune has a new resident—or rather, an old resident with a new name. The dwarf planet originally dubbed Easterbunny will now be known as Makemake (pronounced MAH-keh MAH-keh), reports USA Today.

Discovered in 2005, Makemake is named after the Polynesian creator of humanity and the god of fertility. The third official plutoid is slightly smaller and dimmer than Pluto, and is believed to have a surface of frozen methane.

This artist's concept shows the newly discovered Neptune-sized extrasolar planet circling the star Gliese 436. (KRT Photos)

An Earth-Like Planet Discovered 20 Light Years Away. (Getty Images)

In this undated handout image supplied by the European Southern Observatory, shown is the star Gliese 581. (AP Photo/European Southern Observatory via PA)

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Dwarf Planet Gets a Name

Smaller than Pluto, Makemake is covered in frozen methane

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Small, Heavy, and Shiny— Planetoid Surprises Astronomers

Distant Eris may be more like Mercury than Pluto

Death of a Moon Created Saturn's Rings

Space murder led to iconic shape: astronomer

Astronomers Find Watery Planet

Probably can't support life, but it's the closest find yet

'Super Earth' Spotted, Might Support Life

GG 667Cc orbits star 22 light years away

Local Black Hole About to Chow Down

Milky Way's super-massive black hole to devour gas cloud

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Dwarf Planet Gets a Name

Smaller than Pluto, Makemake is covered in frozen methane

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

astronomy • planet • outer space • Makemake • dwarf planet

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

Small, Heavy, and Shiny— Planetoid Surprises Astronomers

Distant Eris may be more like Mercury than Pluto

Death of a Moon Created Saturn's Rings

Space murder led to iconic shape: astronomer

Astronomers Find Watery Planet

Probably can't support life, but it's the closest find yet

'Super Earth' Spotted, Might Support Life

GG 667Cc orbits star 22 light years away

Local Black Hole About to Chow Down

Milky Way's super-massive black hole to devour gas cloud

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

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More News

What is Newser?