NASA reveals details of a celestial body further away – Science Thule The most distant celestial object ever explored by mankind.

WASHINGTON – NASA (19459003) NASA announced the first details concerning Ultima Thule . The celestial body is located in the Kuiper Belt in the solar system at 6.5 million kilometers from Sun and was recorded by the New Horizons spacecraft.

According to scientist Hal Weaver, of Johns Hopkins University, Ultima Thule is an asteroid whose shape resembles that of a peanut. Before the probe was recorded, it was thought that the object was the result of a union of planetary objects. " [le format] is quite common among the small celestial bodies of the solar system," Weaver said at a press conference.

Weaver explained that the format would be one of the reasons why the asteroid would exhibit variations in brightness. He also said that higher resolution images would be released in February, which could bring more detail to the subject.

The scientist also pointed out that registration is the result of more than three and a half years of work. The photo was taken at about 3,500 kilometers and around midnight. It was received by the projection station on Tuesday at 10:30 am (local time).

One of the objectives of New Horizons is to determine the duration of the rotation of Ultima Thule, which is only 30 kilometers in diameter. Scientists believe the move will last 15 to 30 hours, but the data is considered insufficient to prove the hypothesis.

"Ultima Thule" is a term of Greek origin used by Roman geographers of the medieval period to designate a place "located further from the known world".

Queen Discloses a Tribute to New Horizons

The name was chosen during a contest organized by NASA in 2014, which previously referred to the MU69 object.

Following the confirmation of the recording, NASA head Jim Bridenstine said the scientists involved, a team bringing together NASA, Johns Hopkins University and the Southwest Research Institute, "reconstructed history ".

On Monday, 31, the official profile of the group Queen pays tribute to New Horizons, created by musician Brian May, astrophysicist. Watch the video below: