10th Planet Downsized?

Astronomers using the Hubble Space Telescope have downsized our solar systems 10th planet. Based on the most recent images available, it has been determined that the still as yet unnamed planet is only marginally larger than the planet Pluto… not the 25% to 50% originally estimated. Astronomers had originally expected the surface of the object to be darker than it appears to be. To send back the amount of light that was being captured, a darker surface would have required the object to be considerably bigger. It turns out that for some unknown reason, this object has a 92% surface reflectivity… much higher than Pluto’s 60%. “Geysers may continually coat the surface with fresh frost”, speculated planetary scientist Michael Brown of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, although how that occurs on such a frigid body is unknown. The new data makes this object the near twin of Pluto… not its big brother. Find out more