Quaoar Shocks Astronomers with Discovery of Second ‘Impossible’ Ring

Another day, another amazing astronomical discovery. The dwarf planet Quaoar has shocked astronomers by revealing a second signature ring around it. The first ring, originally discovered in 2004, was named Weywot after a Native American deity, and now this second ring is being called Ekwaju.

What Makes the Discovery So Surprising?

Ekwaju is what scientists call a “ring of scattering,” meaning it’s made up of particles that are too small to be seen individually, yet large enough to scatter sunlight. These type of rings usually dissipate over time, but the fact that Quaoar has two of them is very unlikely.

The discovery of a second ring confirms to astronomers that this strange phenomenon is not just unique to Weywot, but could be more common in other small Kuiper Belt Objects. The origins of the rings are still not entirely understood, but current hypotheses point to a collision between Quaoar and another object in the Kuiper Belt.

The Significance of the Discovery

The discovery of a second ring around Quaoar has broader implications for our understanding of the outer solar system. Researcher of the Ekwaju ring co-author, Jose-Luis Ortiz from the Institute of Astrophysics of Andalusia (IAA-CSIC), says that “This discovery suggests that these kind of ‘impossible’ phenomena might be much more common than previously thought and the second ring around Quaoar might prove to be a lucky find, or it could help our understanding the formation of the giant planets of our Solar System.”

What is Quaoar?

Quaoar is a dwarf planet located in the Kuiper Belt, a region beyond Neptune that is home to a wide array of frozen, icy objects, including the famous Pluto. It was discovered in 2002 and is named after a creation deity in the Tongva Native American culture of Southern California. Quaoar is estimated to be about 1,110 km in diameter and takes around 287 years to orbit around the Sun.

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Summary: The discovery of a second ring around Quaoar, a dwarf planet located in the Kuiper Belt, has stunned astronomers. The ring, named Ekwaju, is considered an “impossible” phenomenon and its presence could indicate that this strange occurrence is more common in small Kuiper Belt Objects. The discovery has broad implications for our understanding of the outer solar system, and could even shed light on the formation of the giant planets. #TECH