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ESOcast 38: Faraway Eris is Pluto’s twin

This ESOcast describes how astronomers have accurately measured the diameter of the faraway dwarf planet Eris for the first time by catching it as it passed in front of a faint star. This event was seen at the end of 2010 by telescopes in Chile, including the TRAPPIST telescope at ESO’s La Silla Observatory. The observations show that Eris is an almost perfect twin of Pluto in size. Eris seems to have a very reflective surface, suggesting that it is covered in ice, probably a frozen atmosphere.

More episodes of the ESOcast are also available.

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Credit:

ESO

Visual design and editing: Martin Kornmesser and Luis Calçada.
Editing: Herbert Zodet.
Web and technical support: Lars Holm Nielsen and Raquel Yumi Shida.
Written by: Mathieu Isidro and Richard Hook.
Narration: Dr. J.
Music: John Dyson (from the album Moonwind) and movetwo.
Footage and photos: ESO, E. Jehin, Nick Risinger (skysurvey.org) and José Francisco Salgado (josefrancisco.org).
Directed by: Richard Hook and Herbert Zodet.
Executive producer: Lars Lindberg Christensen.