Contains:  Solar system body or event
Trans-Neptunian object, Varuna, Steven Bellavia

Trans-Neptunian object, Varuna

Trans-Neptunian object, Varuna, Steven Bellavia

Trans-Neptunian object, Varuna

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Description

20000 Varuna, provisional designation 2000 WR106, is a large trans-Neptunian object and a possible dwarf planet in the Kuiper belt. It was discovered in December 2000 by American astronomer Robert McMillan during a Spacewatch survey at the Kitt Peak National Observatory. It has an elongated shape due to its rapid rotation. It is named after the Hindu deity Varuna, one of the oldest deities mentioned in the Vedic texts.

This image was imaged over three nights, and the animated gif shows the first and third night, March 27, 2020 and April 11, 2020

The image marked as "original" shows the magnitude of some surrounding stars, which may seem bright, but none are visible naked eye. Varuna is mag 20.2 This is a very faint object.

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Revisions

  • Trans-Neptunian object, Varuna, Steven Bellavia
    Original
  • Final
    Trans-Neptunian object, Varuna, Steven Bellavia
    B

Histogram

Trans-Neptunian object, Varuna, Steven Bellavia

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Imaged with APT