Details about the 2 moons of Kuiper Belt Object, 2003 EL61
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Name
Diameter(s) (km)
Mean Distance From Planet (×103 km)
Rotational Period (days)
Orbital Period (days)
Orbital Inclination
Orbital Eccentricity
Albedo (%)
S/2005 (2003 EL61) 2
~170
39.3
?
34.1
39°
0
?
S/2005 (2003 EL61) 1
~350
49.5
?
-49.12
234.8°
0.050
~70
Name
2003 EL61 has two satellites.
Diameter
If the larger satellite was in the asteroid belt it would be the fifth largest.
Rotational and Orbital Periods
The rotational periods of the two satellites are not known.
Orbital Inclination
This is the angle of inclination of the satellite orbits compared to the main body's equatorial plane. S/2005 (2003 EL61) 1 has an inclination of more than
90° meaning it is orbiting in a retrograde direction.
Orbital Eccentricity
The orbits of most objects in the Solar System are ellipses. This curve resembles a flattened circle. The eccentricity describes how much the ellipse
differs from a circle. An orbit with an eccentricity of 0 is a circle. An orbit with an eccentricity of 1 would be an open curve called a parabola.
Albedo
This is the percentage of sunlight that is reflected by the satellites. The icy surface of S/2005 (2003 EL61) 1 is highly reflective.
