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Artist's impression of the dwarf planet VG18, nicknamed "Farout". – Carnegie Institution for Science
It is a pebble with pink highlights of 500 km in diameter. The dwarf planet VG18, nicknamed "Farout", is the most distant object that has been discovered to date in our solar system. It is located 18 billion kilometers from the Sun, or 120 astronomical units (AU, or Earth-Sun distance).
This is 2018 VG18, nicknamed "Farout," because it's the most-distant object ever observed in our Solar System. It was discovered by @CarnegiePlanetsScott Sheppard, @UHIfADave Tholen & @NAUChad Trujillo and announced by the @MinorPlanetCtr today. https://t.co/03QWH22VMv pic.twitter.com/ravOzDw3rw
– Carnegie Science (@carnegiescience) December 17, 2018
This discovery was made by Scott Sheppard of the Carnegie Institution for Science, based on observations made with the Subaru telescope in Hawaii. It is the same team that is responsible for the discovery of several recent transneptunian objects.
No index on the planet X
For the moment, its composition remains a mystery, but the researchers badume that the pinkish reflections are caused by an icy surface. At this stage Farout's orbit is not known either. We do not know if it could be influenced by the hypothetical "planet X", a planet whose existence would explain the trajectories of many objects located well beyond Neptune and Pluto. The hunt continues.
A new record: The most distant object in the solar system is 11 billion miles from the Sun (120x as far as Earth) and nicknamed "Farout." https://t.co/JNGR1kNLnJ pic.twitter.com/pR4F5bqFdY
– Corey S. Powell (@coreyspowell) December 17, 2018
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