A certain news in a certain month in 2005

American astronomers recently announced the discovery of the tenth largest planet in the solar system in the shadow behind Pluto, and tentatively named it "2003UB313".

Our reporter had an exclusive interview this morning with Professor David Rabinlowes of Yale University, one of the members of the "three-person team" who discovered the tenth largest planet. He told reporters the discovery process of "2003UB313".

3 scientists

The "Tenth Star" was discovered a year ago

Professor Reiben Lowes told reporters that he, Mike Brown of the California Institute of Technology, and Chat Chu Kilo of the Gemini Observatory in Hawaii formed a "three-person team" that has been conducting astronomical research for a long time. Two years ago, they were in California

A new camera was installed on the astronomical telescope of the observatory, thus having a new "super telescope" to observe planets, stars and the entire galaxy, especially photographing celestial bodies in motion. Since then, they have regularly photographed what they observed

images, and use a special software to view the captured celestial motion images on a computer.

One day in January this year, three astronomers were sorting out image data taken a year ago in their respective research centers and communicating with each other via email. At this time, Brown first discovered traces of an asteroid, and he immediately

He told the other two people about the discovery. Rebin Lowes could not hide his excitement when he recalled to reporters, "The mood at that time was simply ecstatic. This was a huge discovery. We simply couldn't believe it was true!"

"

To be cautious, the three astronomers contacted the Chilean astronomical agency and commissioned it to use other astronomical telescopes to re-observe the asteroid in South America. At the same time, they also began to accurately calculate the orbit of the asteroid. The results two days later allowed them to

"I was finally convinced of my huge discovery." In fact, they had taken photos of the asteroid as early as October 2003, but it was only a year later that they observed the movement of this mysterious star.

The results were announced despite being unable to observe 2 weeks ago

After measuring the orbit of the asteroid, the three astronomers reported to NASA and applied to use NASA's astronomical telescope to observe the size of the asteroid.

"From January to July this year, we have been waiting for the opportunity," Rebin Rowes explained to reporters. Detailed observations of asteroids cannot be carried out at any time. We must wait until the earth moves to a suitable position.

It should be neither too far nor too close to the sun, and closest to the horizon.

Until two weeks ago, three astronomers finally waited for the opportunity. "However, what makes me feel ironic is that the result of our waiting is--unobservable!" Rebin Lowes said.

Robin Lowes told reporters that NASA's astronomical telescope is not like the one they use at the California Observatory. The asteroid they see at NASA looks like a dirty snow ball or a black hole. He analyzed

That is, firstly, because the asteroid is too far away from us, and secondly, because its surface is covered with ice, which makes it look very dazzling.

When analyzing the brightness of the asteroid, Professor Reiben Lowes said that it may be too large and dark, or it may be too small and bright. But he believes that even if the asteroid is brighter, it will definitely be larger than Pluto, but the size

It will not be more than twice that of Pluto. Although the observation failed, the results also gave astronomers useful information. After analysis and demonstration, NASA held a press conference to announce this discovery to the outside world.

1 new name

Planetary identity to be “decided”

It is understood that the discovery and naming of important celestial objects is a very cautious matter. No local organization has the right to announce it independently. It must be approved by the International Astronomical Union (IAU), the highest academic institution in the astronomical community. At present, it is small

The planet was named "2003UB313". Professor Reiben Lowes said that the three of them drafted a name and submitted it to the IAU, but they did not know whether it would be approved.

Professor Reiben Lowes said, "The international community has not yet reached a final conclusion on the criteria for determining a planet, but most people have accepted that Pluto is one of the nine planets."

He insisted that if a planet meets the conditions of being "larger than its neighboring planets, far away from it, and has a certain mass and size", it can be called a "big planet". In the face of the controversy caused by asteroids

, he said that astronomers from various countries are welcome to express different academic opinions, but the final identity of the asteroid must be determined by the IAU. "The identity of Pluto was unresolved decades ago, and now it is time for the IAU to give a clear definition for the large planets.

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★Core characters

David Rabinlowes————

I fell in love with astronomy as a hobby and made movies at the age of eight.

David Rabinlowes, born in Connecticut, 45 years old. Since 1999, he has been conducting research at the Yale University Center for Astronomy and Astrophysics. He has won the NASA Propulsion Technology Laboratory Achievement Award and has a star named after him.

Named asteroid.

Regarding the achievements and feelings of the discovery, Rebin Lowes said: "The discovery of the tenth planet was an achievement of our team's cooperation. Until now, the three of us have not been able to celebrate together. And I have never been a well-known scholar. What I am really famous for is

The asteroid we discovered."

Reiben Lowes has been working in the field of astronomy for 25 years. He told reporters that he has been interested in astronomy since he was a child. When he first heard that astronauts successfully landed on the moon, he buried a dream about the sky in his heart.

Dream, and he was only eight years old that year. Besides astronomy, his biggest hobby was making movies.

Link

The discovery process of nine planets (except Earth)

Mercury: Discovered by the Sumerians around 3000 BC.

Venus: Discovered before human history began.

Mars: The red planet, discovered by astrologers in prehistoric times.

Jupiter: The largest planet in the solar system, it has been discovered in ancient times.

Saturn: A planet surrounded by "rings". Galileo discovered the rings of Saturn in 1610.

Uranus: Discovered by Flamsteed in 1690.

Neptune: Discovered by Galileo on December 28, 1612.

Pluto: Clyde Tombrough discovered this planet on February 18, 1930 at the Earle Observatory in Arizona, USA.

The mass of asteroids is different from that of large planets

The orbit of an asteroid is elliptical. Its mass is very different from that of large planets. The combined mass of the currently discovered and undiscovered asteroids in the solar system is equivalent to four ten thousandths of the mass of the Earth. The influence of large planets on other celestial bodies

It is relatively large because its mass is large and the gravitational force it exerts on other celestial bodies is relatively large.

China landing point

No matter how we define new celestial bodies, it is meaningful for exploring the universe

Regarding the significance of the "2003UB313" star recently discovered by American scientists and whether previous human statements about the "nine planets" are accurate, the reporter interviewed Dr. Zhu Jin, director of the Beijing Planetarium this morning.

Director Zhu Jin believes that no matter how this newly discovered star is ultimately defined, its discovery will be of great significance to human exploration of the universe, study of the movement of planets and the structure of the solar system.

However, Dr. Zhu Jin made it clear that it is too early to call the newly discovered stars "" (planet) or "the tenth planet from the sun".

Experts say they cannot yet draw a conclusion based on current data.

Yesterday, Li Jing, a researcher at the National Astronomical Observatory of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said in an interview with reporters that because the currently published parameters are relatively rough, strict scientific conclusions cannot be drawn to confirm that this celestial body is the tenth largest planet in the solar system.

Li Jing said that it is currently internationally recognized that the characteristics of a large planet in the solar system must meet at least two conditions. The first is that the celestial body must be basically "coplanar" with the planets in the solar system. The so-called "coplanar" refers to the large planets in the solar system.

Most of them are on a common plane, that is, they are approximately moving on the same plane. Secondly, the trajectories of the major planets in the solar system should be nearly circular, that is, approximately circular. American astronomers discovered

The angle between this celestial body and the common plane of the planets in the solar system reaches 45 degrees, which is not "coplanar". And the trajectory of this celestial body is elliptical.

Li Jing said that the mass can also be used as a criterion to judge whether a celestial body is a large planet. He said: "According to the information provided in the report, the mass of this celestial body will not be too large. Therefore, there is no problem in saying that it is a planet, but it cannot be

It is asserted that it is a large planet."

Beijing Planetarium will try to take spectra of newly discovered celestial objects

During the interview, Zhu Jin, director of the Beijing Planetarium, told reporters that the Beijing Planetarium is preparing to use domestic equipment to observe the three newly discovered planets.

Zhu Jin told reporters that last Friday, they had gone to observe 2003EL61 (

A team of Spanish astronomers discovered a huge celestial body in the Kuiper Belt on the 28th of last month). When the weather improves, they plan to use the National Astronomical Observatory's two-meter telescope to try to take pictures of their spectrum.

However, Zhu Jin emphasized that success must depend on weather conditions. According to him, currently, there is a slight problem with the telescope in the Beijing Planetarium, and it may not be possible to observe under the observation conditions in the city.

The above is the station’s full report on the newly discovered planets. We hope that viewers will continue to watch other programs on this station. Thank you!
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