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136199 Eris Trivia Quiz

A quiz on the dwarf planet Eris.

A multiple-choice quiz by jonthomas. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
jonthomas

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
351,537

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
294

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Eris, like Pluto, is called a dwarf planet. However, they are not in the same region of the Solar System! Where is Eris located? Hint

Hills Cloud

In front of Mercury

Asteroid Belt

Scattered Disc

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. Before it was called Eris, the object was given a provisional name by the IAU (International Astronomical Union). What was this name? Hint

2007OR10

2005FY9

2003EL61

2003UB313

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Question 3 of 10

3. Before Eris was officially named, it had a nickname used by astronomers. What was it? Hint

Pluto Jr.

Xena

Easter Bunny

Santa

4. Eris is highly eccentric, meaning its orbital path is elliptically shaped, and it can change its distance from the Sun. Comparing its aphelion (farthest distance from the Sun) to its perihelion (Closest distance to the Sun), what is the difference between these two? Hint

The same as the distance between the Sun and Mercury

The same as the distance between the Sun and Uranus

We have no way of knowing

The same as the distance between the Sun and Pluto

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. Eris is unique among other planets as it is named after a Greek deity, whereas most others are named after Roman deities. What other planet is named after a Greek deity? Hint

Saturn

Uranus

Mars

Haumea

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. Much like how Eris was originally nicknamed, its moon Dysnomia also had a nickname. What was it? Hint

Darphus

Joxer

Gabrielle

Hercules

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. What is the first substance scientists have been able to identify on Eris? Hint

Methane

Hydrogen

Nitrogen

Argon

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Question 8 of 10

8. Which of these bodies is in the same region of space as Eris? Hint

Makemake

Sedna

2007OR10

Ceres

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Question 9 of 10

9. Eris is known to have a molten inner core.

True

False

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Question 10 of 10

10. Finally, is Eris the farthest known object in the Solar System?

Yes

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Eris, like Pluto, is called a dwarf planet. However, they are not in the same region of the Solar System! Where is Eris located?

Answer: Scattered Disc

The Scattered Disc is a region just beyond the Kuiper Belt. It is thought to be sparsely filled with icy SSSBs (Small Solar System Bodies).

2. Before it was called Eris, the object was given a provisional name by the IAU (International Astronomical Union). What was this name?

Answer: 2003UB313

As it was first seen in 2003, it was called this and given additional code numbers and letters to differentiate it from other discoveries made that year. 2003EL61 was the provisional name of Haumea, another dwarf planet. 2005FY9 was the provisional name of Makemake, yet another dwarf planet. 2007OR10 is the provisional name of an object that may or may not be a dwarf planet.

3. Before Eris was officially named, it had a nickname used by astronomers. What was it?

Answer: Xena

Xena was the name of the main character of a television show called "Xena: Warrior Princess". As a nod to this nickname, its only known moon so far was called Dysnomia, goddess of lawlessness. On TV, Xena was played by Lucy Lawless.

Answer: The same as the distance between the Sun and Pluto

This is about 39 AU, so it is very far. As of 2011, Eris was somewhere between aphelion and perihelion, placed at around 96 AU.

5. Eris is unique among other planets as it is named after a Greek deity, whereas most others are named after Roman deities. What other planet is named after a Greek deity?

Answer: Uranus

Uranus was originally spelled as "Ouranos", and was the Titan-god who created the sky. Saturn and Mars come from Roman deities and Haumea is the name of a Hawaiian deity.

6. Much like how Eris was originally nicknamed, its moon Dysnomia also had a nickname. What was it?

Answer: Gabrielle

Sticking with the "Xena" theme Eris had at the time, the moon was named after Xena's sidekick on the show "Xena: Warrior Princess".

7. What is the first substance scientists have been able to identify on Eris?

Answer: Methane

Spectroscopic observations revelealed frozen methane on Eris. This suggests that its surface could be similar to Pluto's, though it is too far away to be able to tell for sure.

8. Which of these bodies is in the same region of space as Eris?

Answer: 2007OR10

2007OR10 is a currently unnamed dwarf planet candidate, meaning we aren't yet sure if it is rounded under its own gravity. Sedna is considered to be a detached object. Ceres is in the Asteroid Belt, and Makemake is in the Kuiper Belt, just a few AU away from Eris on average.

9. Eris is known to have a molten inner core.

Answer: False

Eris is far too small and far away from the Sun to be able to maintain such a thing. We can be sure of this because its average surface temperature is about -400 degress Fahrenheit, far too cold to have a molten core.

10. Finally, is Eris the farthest known object in the Solar System?

Answer: No

This distinction belongs to the space probe Voyager 1. However, Eris is the farthest known natural object in the Solar System. Its maximum distance is about 96 AU, Voyager 1 was approaching interstellar space as of early 2012. This is many, many time farther than Eris could possibly be from the Sun.

Source: Author jonthomas

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor WesleyCrusher before going online.
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