Researchers who discovered the plutoid 2007 OR10, which is the largest unnamed dwarf planet in the Solar System, have decided to assign a name to this celestial body. The relevant announcement was published on the website of the Planetary Society. The researchers proposed three options that meet the requirements of the International Astronomical Union, one of which will become the name of the plutoid.
The celestial body in question was discovered in 2007 by planetary astronomers Megan Schwamb and Michael Brown. For a long time, the dwarf planet was perceived as an ordinary neighbor of Pluto, whose diameter is approximately 1280 km. A few years ago, 2007 OR10 gained the attention of researchers who determined that the actual diameter of the object exceeds the previously estimated value by 300 km. Thus, the plutoid transformed from an ordinary inhabitant of the Kuiper Belt into the largest 'nameless' planet. Further studies revealed that the dwarf planet has its own moon with a diameter of about 250 km.
The researchers selected three possible names, each associated with deities from different cultures around the world. Gungun is the first proposed option, which is also the name of the water god in Chinese mythology. According to legend, this deity is directly related to the fact that the axis of rotation of our planet is tilted relative to its orbit. The second option is the name of the ancient Germanic goddess Holda. She is considered the protector of agriculture and also acts as the leader of the Wild Hunt (a group of spectral riders hunting for souls). The last name on this list is that of the Scandinavian god Vili, who, according to legend, is not only the brother of the famous Thor but also one of the creators of the universe and a patron of humanity.
An open vote on the website will last until May 10, 2019, after which the winning option will be sent to the International Astronomical Union for final approval.
Source: 3dnews.ru
