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Makemake Becomes the Newest Dwarf Planet

Posted by kdawson on from the this-one's-a-kuiper dept.

Kligat writes "The Kuiper belt object formerly known as (136472) 2005 FY9 has been rechristened Makemake and classified as a dwarf planet and plutoid by the International Astronomical Union, according to the United States Geological Survey. The reclassification occurs just a month after the latter category was created. The object was referred to by the team of discoverers by the codename Easterbunny, and the name Makemake comes from the creation deity of Easter Island, in accordance with IAU rules on naming Kuiper belt objects."

1 of 191 comments (clear)

  1. Makemake and the Easterbunny?? by iwein · · Score: 0, Troll

    Seriously... is this a joke? What happened to the times that we named planets after gods? Oh wait.

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