Farout: The Farthest Object Seen In Our Solar System

How far can we see into space and what will we see in its vast reaches? Well, a team of astronomers has been able to observe a solar system object, which is 120 astronomical units from the Earth, the farthest one so far.

The second-most-distant observed Solar System object is Eris, at about 96 AU. Pluto is currently at about 34 AU, making 2018 VG18 more than three-and-a-half times more distant than the Solar System’s most-famous dwarf planet.
The discovery images of 2018 VG18 were taken at the Japanese Subaru 8-meter telescope located atop Mauna Kea in Hawaii on November 10, 2018.
Once 2018 VG18 was found, it needed to be re-observed to confirm its very distant nature. 2018 VG18 was seen for the second time in early December at the Magellan telescope at Carnegie’s Las Campanas Observatory in Chile.

(Image credit: Roberto Molar Candanosa/Carnegie Institution for Science)


Comments (3)

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Ha ha, Andrew! I'm sure that "Farout" is a temporary name.

From https://www.iau.org/public/themes/naming/#dwarfplanets:

There are several stages before a proposed name is accepted:

When a body is initially sighted it is given a provisional name, which is later superseded by a permanent numerical designation once its orbit has been well determined.
The discovery team suggests a suitable name to the two relevant IAU groups — the working groups for Small Body Nomenclature (CSBN) and Planetary System Nomenclature (WGPSN) — who together are responsible for naming dwarf planets. The name is intended to reflect the characteristics of the body itself, and be an appropriate moniker derived from mythology. Objects, including dwarf planets, far beyond the orbit of Neptune are expected to be given the name of a deity or figure related to creation; for example Makemake, the Polynesian creator of humanity and god of fertility, and Haumea, the Hawaiian goddess of fertility and childbirth.
The IAU finally decides on the assignment of the name, priority given to the ones proposed by the discoverers.
Dwarf planets may not share a name with any other small Solar System bodies.
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Wait, is that calling the agnostics who question it stupid (cleverly), or is it calling the theory stupid?

Because if it's a blanket insult towards one of the world's largest religions, it's pretty darn stupid and offensive.
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Girls, girls, you're BOTH pretty!
On following the link, I think the author is insulting everyone. They are mostly funny, but it means you have to have a sense of humor about your own political beliefs.
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It's too vague to be funny.
As for the other posters, some were OK; the sentences were too long in others.
I prefer my humour where I don't have to think.
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Unless I'm mistaken, the basic tenet of Intelligent Design is that a Higher Being had a hand in the creation of the universe. Since this is pretty much a standard point for most religions, the message of this particular poster could be construed as saying that people who have faith in some Higher Being are all morons.

And being agnostic seems to leave open the possiblity that some sort of god actually did create the world. So it shouldn't be a point of contention for you. Now if you'd like to declare yourself atheist, then perhaps you'd have a dog in this fight. But being atheist requires a sort of faith as well...something that agnostics by definition don't have.
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But not everything that requires belief or faith is a religion. I belive that there are no such things as gods, because the evidence against them is too strong. But that doesn't mean that atheism is a religion, any more than not collecting stamps is a hobby.
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