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Fifth Dwarf Planet Named by the IAU

Tuesday, September 16, 2008

The name Haumea has been approved for the object previously known as 2003 EL61. There are now five objects in the Solar System classified as dwarf planets: Ceres, Pluto, Haumea, Eris, and Makemake.

Haumea's two moons have also been given new names. Hi'iaka (Haumea I) and Namaka (Haumea II) are both daughters of Haumea in Hawaiian mythology.

For more information, see the IAU announcement and the Planet and Satellite Names and Discoverers page in the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature.

Posted by Jennifer Blue in Planetary Nomenclature at 09:27

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