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Planetary Walkway: Quaoar
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Always a surprise and never predictable, Roger is much like Quaoar. While appearing distant, he is quite approachable, especially when sharing a joke or a humorous story. Never seeking recognition, from afar his glow may appear dim. However, within the protection of his own atmosphere, his luminosity as a loving husband and a compassionate humanitarian is readily acknowledged among those who truly know him.
![Quaoar is estimated to have a diameter of 1260 ± 190 km[5], which at the time of discovery in 2002…](http://www.wnc.edu/photos/walkway/marker_quaoar_md.jpg "Quaoar is estimated to have a diameter of 1260 ± 190 km[5], which at the time of discovery in 2002 made it the largest object found in the solar system since the discovery of Pluto.")
Quaoar is estimated to have a diameter of 1260 ± 190 km[5], which at the time of discovery in 2002 made it the largest object found in the solar system since the discovery of Pluto.
Quaoar was discovered by astronomers Chas Trujillo and Michael Brown on June 4th, 2002 at Cal Tech from images acquired at the Palomar Observatory. This object was discovered to inhabit the Kuiper Belt and is the name of a creation deity of the Native American Tongva people native to the area around Los Angeles, CA. near where the discovery was made. It is approxiamtely 45 A. U. and well beyond another Dwarf planet, Pluto. Putting Quaoar in some perspective, it is about 1/10 th the diameter of the Earth 1/3 the diameter of the Moon and about half the size of Pluto. It is estimated to take about 286 years to orbit the Sun.
Quick Facts
- Mean Distance from Sun: 6,500,000,000 kilometers
- Orbital Period: 288 years
- Rotational Period: undetermined