Gabrielle, a moon of Xena, was discovered on September 10, 2005. The discovery was made using the Laser Guide Star Adaptive Optics (LGS AO) system at the W.M. Keck Observatory. Images were taken at infrared wavelengths (2.1 microns) using the NIRC2 imaging camera over a period of 40 minutes. Gabrielle is located to the right of Xena in the picture.
Xena moves across the sky at a different rate to distant stars, as all planets do. We know that the object is the moon of Xena because it follows Xena across the sky. By contrast, a star would appear to remain fixed. When the images are processed, the background stars appear to streak across the sky while Xena's companion does not. From these observations, we can say that Xena is 60 times brighter than Gabrielle. More observations are planned to calculate the orbit of Gabrielle around Xena, which appears to have an orbital period of about 14 days. From the orbital period and semi-major axis (approximately the average distance between Xena and Gabrielle), it is possible to determine the mass of Xena and confirm that it is more massive than Pluto, as we suspect, and hence a tenth planet. However, it is up to the International Astronomical Union to decide whether to confer planet status to Xena, which depends on the definition they decide upon for what is a planet.
A science article on the discovery has been submitted to the Astrophysical Journal on October 2, 2005 and resubmitted with changes on November 11, 2005. The article can be accessed here. Additional information is also available from Mike Brown's Gabrielle website.
Sciencetists sure do pick funny names for things.
M1891/30: A bad day on the range is better then a good day at work.
Those are just the nicknames they were given by the scientists who discovered them, right? I'm sure I read somewhere that those hadn't been submitted for consideration as their final names.
This is old news. (Look at the last-updated date on the site.) And it's been recently found that this particular KBO, is only roughly Pluto's size but has a very bright surface. Also this is the unofficial name given to the KBO by the astronomers who observed it, whose official name is currently the decidedly less-romantic 2003 UB313. As always, the IAU will have final say over the official names of the objects.
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GrandMasterTerwynn wrote:This is old news. (Look at the last-updated date on the site.) And it's been recently found that this particular KBO, is only roughly Pluto's size but has a very bright surface. Also this is the unofficial name given to the KBO by the astronomers who observed it, whose official name is currently the decidedly less-romantic 2003 UB313. As always, the IAU will have final say over the official names of the objects.
Dammit, the tenth planet must be named Rupert! There's no other option.
"Stop! No one can survive these deadly rays!"
"These deadly rays will be your death!"
- Thor and Akton, Starcrash
"Before man reaches the moon your mail will be delivered within hours from New York to California, to England, to India or to Australia by guided missiles.... We stand on the threshold of rocket mail."
- Arthur Summerfield, US Postmaster General 1953 - 1961
Unfortunately the planets are named after Roman gods.
Of course, if they decide it is not a planet - and this is a tricky area that involved big arguments about Pluto [but tradition would be too strong against 'deplanetising' Pluto] then it could be given another name.
Ah, as its a 'semi-planet' it can be named after a 'demi-god' - Xena is Greek, close enough to Roman and she has some Roman connections in a number of episodes (including her daughter Eve/Livia).
But Xena is a fictional character! (oh yes the Roman gods are real ).
TVWP: "Janeway says archly, "Sometimes it's the female of the species that initiates mating." Is the female of the species trying to initiate mating now? Janeway accepts Paris's apology and tells him she's putting him in for a commendation. The salamander sex was that good." "Not bad - for a human"-Bishop to Ripley GALACTIC DOMINATION Empire Board Game visit link below: GALACTIC DOMINATION
Archaic` wrote:Those are just the nicknames they were given by the scientists who discovered them, right? I'm sure I read somewhere that those hadn't been submitted for consideration as their final names.
Why not drop the A in Xena and replace it with a U?
Zor
HAIL ZOR!WE'LL BLOW UP THE OCEAN!
Heros of Cybertron-HAB-Keeper of the Vicious pit of Allosauruses-King Leighton-I, United Kingdom of Zoria: SD.net World/Tsar Mikhail-I of the Red Tsardom: SD.net Kingdoms WHEN ALL HELL BREAKS LOOSE ON EARTH, ALL EARTH BREAKS LOOSE ON HELL Terran Sphere The Art of Zor
Zor wrote:Why not drop the A in Xena and replace it with a U?
Zor
Beause then the scientologists would riot and burn down half of LA for the evil scientists daring to mock their religion....wait a tic, that sounds like a damn fine idea now.
SDNet World Nation: Wilkonia
Armourer of the WARWOLVES
ASVS Vet's Association (Class of 2000)
Former C.S. Strowbridge Gold Ego Award Winner MEMBER of the Anti-PETA Anti-Facist LEAGUE
"I put no stock in religion. By the word religion I have seen the lunacy of fanatics of every denomination be called the will of god. I have seen too much religion in the eyes of too many murderers. Holiness is in right action, and courage on behalf of those who cannot defend themselves, and goodness. "
-Kingdom of Heaven
the planets are named after Roman gods.
