When was Haumea discovered and who found it?
A team led by Mike Brown at Caltech spotted the object on the 28th of December 2004. They captured images on the 6th of May 2004 and published an abstract about their find on the 20th of July 2005.
Questions about Haumea
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What is the shape and rotation speed of Haumea?
Haumea spins once every 3.9 hours which distorts the dwarf planet into a triaxial ellipsoid shape. Observations from January 2017 revealed dimensions of approximately 2,322 by 1,704 by 1,026 kilometers.
How did Haumea form and what created its moons?
A massive impact shattered a progenitor body billions of years ago to create Haumea and its kin. This event ejected fragments that now orbit as moons or drift independently through space.
What does the surface of Haumea look like and when was this observed?
Spectra obtained by Gemini and Keck telescopes in 2005 revealed strong crystalline water ice features on Haumea's surface. A dark red area observed in September 2009 indicates regions rich in minerals or organic compounds.
When was the ring system around Haumea confirmed and how wide is it?
A stellar occultation event on the 21st of January 2017 confirmed the presence of a ring system around Haumea. The ring spans approximately 2,287 kilometers from the center with a width of about 70 kilometers.
Who discovered the two moons of Haumea and when were they found?
Hiiaka was discovered on the 26th of January 2005 while Namaka appeared on the 30th of June 2005. Both satellites likely formed from fragments ejected during the giant collision that shaped the main body.