Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astrophysics – Earth and Planetary Astrophysics
Scientific paper
2012-03-02
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astrophysics
Earth and Planetary Astrophysics
5 pages
Scientific paper
The discovery of the largest trans-neptunian object 2003 UB313 (dwarf planet Eris) was made more than 5 years ago, but the question on the true relation of the sizes of Pluto and Eris (and according to of their densities) remains debatable in view of a sizable scatter of their size's estimates obtained by the various methods. Here, we first used a semi-empirical approach to deduce the expression linking the orbital parameter eccentricity to the physical properties of the trans-neptunian dwarf planets and have applied it to determining the mean size of these planets. In doing so is proved that the mean Eris' size should be about 9 % larger than of Pluto's. Based on the published photometric data and the derived mean diameter the possible estimates of the minimum and maximum diameters of Pluto and Eris on the assumption of a deviation their form from spherical are provided. The probable reason for an occurrence of such an aspherical form of these dwarf planets is briefly discussed.
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