Dwarf planets · Dwarf planet
Eris
10 billion km from the Sun · Light crosses it in 0.0078 seconds
- Across
- 2,326 km
- Vs Earth
- 18% of Earth
- Mass
- 0.28% of Earth
About
Eris is slightly smaller than Pluto but noticeably heavier. Finding it in 2005 made the question unavoidable: either the Solar System had a tenth planet, or Pluto was something else. Astronomers chose the second answer, and named the newcomer after the goddess of discord.
Its discovery in 2005 led to Pluto losing its planet status.
At a glance
| Orbit | 558 years |
|---|---|
| Distance now | About 95 AU from the Sun |
| Mass | 27% more than Pluto |
| Moon | Dysnomia |
Did you know
- Its surface is coated in nitrogen and methane frost that may be its atmosphere, frozen out as it moves away from the Sun.
- It reflects 96% of the light that hits it — almost as bright as fresh snow.
- At its most distant it is three times farther from the Sun than Pluto.