79360 Sila–Nunam
79360 Sila–Nunam (pronunciation: /ˈsiːlə ˈnuːnəm/) is a binary trans-Neptunian object (TNO) discovered in the Kuiper belt, a region of the solar system beyond the planets, extending from the orbit of Neptune.
Etymology
The name Sila–Nunam comes from Inuit mythology. Sila was the Inuit god of the sky, weather, and life force. Nunam was the Earth goddess, Sila's wife. The two bodies of the binary system were named after these deities, symbolizing their eternal dance in the sky.
Discovery
79360 Sila–Nunam was discovered on February 3, 1997, by Jane X. Luu, David C. Jewitt, and Chad Trujillo. The discovery was made at the Mauna Kea Observatory in Hawaii.
Characteristics
Sila–Nunam is a binary system, composed of two bodies of almost equal size, orbiting their common center of mass. The two components are designated Sila and Nunam. The system is classified as a Cubewano, a type of TNO that orbits in the region of the Kuiper belt known as the classical Kuiper belt, or cubewano region.
Orbit and rotation
Sila–Nunam orbits the Sun at an average distance of 44 astronomical units (AU). The system has an orbital period of approximately 294 years. The two components, Sila and Nunam, orbit each other every 12.51 days.
Physical properties
The two components of the Sila–Nunam system are almost equal in size, with diameters of approximately 700 kilometers. The system's total mass is estimated to be about 4% that of the Moon.
See also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on 79360 Sila–Nunam
- Wikipedia's article - 79360 Sila–Nunam
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