FarFarOut

FarFarOut is the nickname of a trans-Neptunian object discovered well beyond 100 AU (15 billion km) from the Sun.[3] Imaged in January 2018 during a search for the hypothetical Planet Nine,[2] the object was announced in a press release on February 21, 2019, by astronomers Scott Sheppard, David Tholen, and Chad Trujillo, when they nicknamed it "FarFarOut" to emphasize its distance from the Sun.[3]

FarFarOut
Discovery[1]
Discovered by
Discovery siteMauna Kea Obs. (Subaru)
Discovery dateImaged: January 2018
Found: February 2019[2]
Designations
"FarFarOut"[3]
TNO[3]
Orbital characteristics
Observation arc2 days[2]
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter
~400 km (250 mi)[4]

    Distance

    The object was initially estimated to be roughly 140 AU (21 billion km) from the Sun. Due to a very short observation arc, the uncertainties in this estimate have not been published. As of February 2019, it is the furthest observed member of the Solar System.[5]

    Many near-parabolic comets are much further from the Sun. Caesar's Comet (C/-43 K1) is calculated to be more than 800 AU (120 billion km) from the Sun.[6] Comet Donati (C/1858 L1) is 145 AU (22 billion km) from the Sun.[7]

    See also

    References

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