Dysnomia (moon): Difference between revisions

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Revision as of 16:22, 14 September 2006

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'''Dysnomia''', officially designated '''(136199) Eris I Dysnomia''', is a moon of the [[dwarf planet]] [[136199 Eris|Eris]]. It was discovered in 2005 by [[Michael E. Brown|Mike Brown]], and carried the provisional designation of '''{{mpm-|S/2005 (2003 UB|313|) 1}}''' until officially named ''Dysnomia'' (a Greek word which means "lawlessness") after the daughter of the Greek goddess [[Eris (mythology)|Eris]].

==Discovery==

During 2005, the [[adaptive optics]] team at the [[Keck telescopes]] in [[Hawaii]] carried out observations of the four brightest Kuiper belt objects ([[Pluto]], {{mpl-|136472|2005 FY|9}}, {{mpl-|136108|2003 EL|61}}, and Eris), using the newly commissioned [[laser guide star]] adaptive optics system. Observations taken on 10 September revealed a [[natural satellite|moon]] in orbit around Eris, it was provisionally designated '''{{mpm-|S/2005 (2003 UB|313|) 1}}.''' In keeping with the "[[Xena]]" nickname that was already in use for Eris, the moon was nicknamed ''[[Gabrielle (Xena)|Gabrielle]]'' by its discoverers, after the television warrior princess's sidekick. Coincidentally, Dysnomia means "lawlessness," while the character of Xena was played by an actress named [[Lucy Lawless]].

==Properties==