Xena, first called 2003 UB313, and now called Eris, is a planet you’ve probably never heard of before. Discovered in 2005, this celestial body lies at the outer edges of our solar system, joining the ranks of fellow dwarf planets such as Pluto.
Named after the warrior princess in Greek mythology, Xena, officially known as Eris, is believed to be about 27% more massive than Pluto and almost the same size. Located at an average distance of 14.6 billion kilometers from the sun, it takes about 557 years for this planet to complete one orbit.
Despite its distant location, Xena, which is approximately 10 billion kilometers away from Earth, has left scientists intrigued. Its discovery was a significant factor in the International Astronomical Union (IAU) redefining what it means to be a planet.
Previously, to be classified as a planet, an object had to satisfy three conditions: it must orbit the sun, have enough mass to assume a nearly round shape, and have cleared its orbit of other debris. However, Xena’s discovery challenged this definition as it failed to meet the last criterion due to its relatively crowded surroundings.
This prompted the IAU to redefine a planet as a celestial body that orbits the sun, is spherical in shape, and has cleared its orbit of any significant debris. As a result, Pluto and Xena were both reclassified as dwarf planets.
Despite losing its planetary status, Xena is a fascinating world worth studying. It has a highly elliptical orbit, which reaches distances even farther than the dwarf planet Sedna, making it one of the most distant objects known in our solar system.
Observations of Xena have provided valuable insights into the formation and evolution of our solar system. Scientists believe it possibly originated much closer to the sun but was flung out to its current position due to gravitational interactions with other massive bodies.
Additionally, Xena’s surface composition is a subject of interest. It is believed to be mostly composed of rock and ice, but further studies are required to determine its exact makeup and characteristics.
While Xena may be a planet you’ve probably never heard of, it has captured the attention of astronomers and space enthusiasts alike. With ongoing research and exploration, we may uncover more secrets this distant warrior princess has yet to reveal.
