Dwarf planets

Minor planets in the dwarf planet class.

Petroglyph of Makemake with two birdmen, carved from red scoria.
Dwarf planets, Focus On, Trans-Neptunian objects, Virgo discovery

Focus On: (136472) Makemake

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Name origin: Make Make is considered the supreme divinity of Easter Island and the most important mythological being in the Rapanui worldview. Make Make was the creator of all things, the first man and the first woman, and he had the power to reward the good people and punish the bad ones. The most important ritual in honour of Make Make was the bird man (Tangata Manu) competition in which prominent contestants sent helpers to obtain the first manutara (sooty tern) egg.

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15th century manuscript miniature illustration of Eris throwing the golden apple at the wedding of Peleus and Thetis, from Jean Miélot's L'Epître d'Othéa.
Aries discovery, Dwarf planets, Focus On, Scattered disk objects, Trans-Neptunian objects

Focus On: (136199) Eris

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Name origin: Greek goddess or personified spirit (daimona) of strife, discord, contention and rivalry. Eris was often portrayed specifically as the daimona of the strife of war, haunting the battlefield and delighting in human bloodshed. Because of Eris’ disagreeable nature she was the only goddess not to be invited to the wedding of Peleus and Thetis. When she turned up anyway and was refused admittance, she raged and threw in the golden apple that famously led to the Trojan War. She was closely identified with Enyo, the goddess of war and a close companion of Ares.

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Screenshot of an interactive 3D model of Haumea by NASA.
Dwarf planets, Focus On, Libra discovery, Trans-Neptunian objects

Focus On: (136108) Haumea

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Name origin: Hawai’ian goddess of fertility and childbirth. Mother of many important deities (including Pele, Hi’iaka and Namaka) and herself among the first worshipped on the Hawai’ian islands. She repeatedly transforms herself from an old woman to a young girl, and returns to her homeland periodically to give birth to further generations of humans.

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