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Artist’s Concept of Kuiper Belt Object 2003 UB313 (Non-Annotated)
This is an artist's concept of Kuiper Belt object 2003 UB313 (nicknamed "Xena") and its satellite "Gabrielle."
Ground-based observations suggested that Xena was about 30 percent greater in diameter than Pluto, but Hubble's Advanced Camera for Surveys images, taken on Dec. 9 and 10, 2005, yielded a diameter of 1,490 miles (with an uncertainty of 60 miles) for Xena. Pluto's diameter, as measured by Hubble, is 1,422 miles.
Xena is the large object at the bottom of this artist's concept. A portion of its surface is lit by the Sun, located in the upper left corner of the image. Xena's companion, Gabrielle, is located just above and to the left of Xena.
About the Object
- R.A. PositionR.A. PositionRight ascension – analogous to longitude – is one component of an object's position.01h 35m 37s.64
- Dec. PositionDec. PositionDeclination – analogous to latitude – is one component of an object's position.-05° 39' 57 ".7
- DistanceDistanceThe physical distance from Earth to the astronomical object. Distances within our solar system are usually measured in Astronomical Units (AU). Distances between stars are usually measured in light-years. Interstellar distances can also be measured in parsecs.10 billion miles away (16 billion kilometers)
- Object NameObject NameA name or catalog number that astronomers use to identify an astronomical object.2003 UB313, "Xena"
- Object DescriptionObject DescriptionThe type of astronomical object.Kuiper Belt Object
- Release DateApril 11, 2006
- Science ReleaseHubble Finds ‘Tenth Planet’ is Slightly Larger than Pluto
- Credit
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Kuiper Belt Object 2003 UB313
NASA's Hubble Space Telescope resolved Kuiper Belt object "Xena" for the first time and found that it is only just a little larger than Pluto. Ground-based observations suggested that Xena was about 30 percent greater in diameter than Pluto, but Hubble's Advanced Camera for...
Artist's Concept of Kuiper Belt Object 2003 UB313 (Annotated)
This is an artist's concept of Kuiper Belt object 2003 UB313 (nicknamed "Xena") and its satellite Gabrielle. NASA's Hubble Space Telescope observed Xena with the Advanced Camera for Surveys on Dec. 9 and 10, 2005. The Hubble measurements of Xena yielded a diameter of 1,490 miles...
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Claire Andreoli
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland
claire.andreoli@nasa.gov
