20000 Varuna Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
20000 Varuna
Discovery
Artist's idea of what Varuna may look like
Discovered by	R. McMillan (Spacewatch)
Discovery date	28 November 2000
Designations
MPC designation	20000 Varuna
Alternative names	2000 WR₁₀₆
Minor planet category	TNO (cubewano)
Orbital characteristics
Epoch 14 July 2004 (JD 2453200.5)
Aphelion	6 781.985 Gm (45.335 AU)
Perihelion	6 120.810 Gm (40.915 AU)
Semi-major axis	6 451.398 Gm (43.129 AU)
Eccentricity	0.051
Orbital period	103 440.6 d (283.20 a)
Average orbital speed	4.53 km/s
Mean anomaly	89.673°
Inclination	17.2°
Longitude of ascending node	97.296°
Argument of perihelion	271.631°
Physical characteristics
Dimensions	800 km (avg of thermals) (scalene ellipsoid)?
Mass	≈3.7×10²⁰? kg
Mean density	0.992 g/cm³
Surface gravity	0.15 m/s²
Escape velocity	0.39 km/s
Sidereal rotation period	0.132 16 d (3.17 h)
Albedo	0.037–0.26
Temperature	≈43–41 K
Spectral type	(moderately red) B-V=0.93 V-R=0.64
Apparent magnitude	19.9 (opposition)
Absolute magnitude (H)	3.7

20000 Varuna is a very large object located in the Kuiper belt. The Kuiper belt is a huge ring of icy bodies found beyond the planet Neptune. Varuna is so big that scientists think it might be a dwarf planet, similar to Pluto.

Before it was officially named Varuna, this object had a temporary name called a provisional designation. Its provisional name was 2000 WR₁₀₆. Varuna got its permanent name from Varuṇa, a god in Hindu stories.

What is Varuna Like?

Varuna spins around quite quickly. It completes one full spin in about 3.17 hours. Because it spins so fast for its size, scientists believe Varuna is shaped like a stretched-out ball, not a perfect sphere. Imagine a rugby ball or an American football, but in space!

The material that makes up Varuna is thought to be very similar to water. Its density is about 1 gram per cubic centimeter, which is close to the density of water.

The surface of Varuna has a slightly reddish color. Scientists have also found small amounts of water ice on its surface. This tells us a bit about what Varuna is made of and what it might look like up close.

The Solar System

Sun • Heliosphere	Planets ☾ = moon(s) ∅ = rings		Mercury	Venus	Earth ☾	Mars ☾

			Jupiter ☾ ∅	Saturn ☾ ∅	Uranus ☾ ∅	Neptune ☾ ∅

	Dwarf planets		Ceres	Pluto ☾	Haumea ☾	Makemake

			Eris ☾

	Small Solar System bodies	Asteroids (minor planets)	Groups and families: Vulcanoids · Near-Earth asteroids · Asteroid belt Jupiter Trojans · Centaurs · Neptune Trojans · Asteroid moons · Meteoroids · Pallas · Juno · Vesta · Hygiea · Interamnia · Europa
		Asteroids (minor planets)	See also the list of asteroids.

		Trans- Neptunians	Kuiper belt – Plutinos: Orcus · Ixion – Cubewanos: Varuna · Quaoar · Huya
		Trans- Neptunians	Scattered disc: Sedna

		Comets	Periodic comets and non-periodic comets Damocloids · Oort cloud
See also the list of solar system objects

Images for kids

Varuna was discovered using a special telescope at the Kitt Peak National Observatory.
An artist's drawing of Varuna, showing its reddish color and stretched shape.
See how Varuna compares in size to the Earth and the Moon.
Another artistic idea of Varuna, based on what we know about its shape and color.

20000 Varuna facts for kids

What is Varuna Like?

Images for kids

See also