To: WSFAlist at keithlynch.net Date: Sun, 14 Mar 2004 21:54:22 -0500 Subject: [WSFA] NASA set to announce possible tenth Solar planet From: ronkean at juno.com Reply-To: WSFA members <WSFAlist at keithlynch.net> http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2004/mar/HQ_n04040_solar_object.html http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/printpage/0,5942,8968352,00.html It's another world ... but is it our 10th planet? By Louise Milligan and agencies 15mar04 SCIENTISTS have found a new world orbiting the solar system – more than 3 billion kilometres further away from the Sun than Pluto and 40 years away from Earth in a space shuttle. NASA is expected to announce today the discovery of the space object, which some experts believe could be a new planet. It is provisionally known as Sedna, after the Inuit goddess of the sea. The discovery of Sedna – 10 billion kilometres from Earth – is a testament to the new generation of high-powered telescopes. Measurements suggest Sedna's diameter is almost 2000km – the biggest find in the solar system since Pluto was discovered 74 years ago. It is believed to be made of ice and rock, and is slightly smaller than Pluto. . ________________________________________________________________