Orcus
Authors: ASE Tech Team
Orcus is a dwarf planet candidate and having a size, mass, surface characteristics, and orbital path almost identical to those of Pluto. However, Orcus's orbit is positioned opposite to Pluto's. When Pluto is at its closest point to the Sun (perihelion), Orcus is at its farthest point (aphelion), and vice versa.
Concordance, Etymology, History
Orcus was discovered by the American astronomers Michael Brown, Chad Trujillo, and David Rabinowitz on 17 February 2004.
Origin of Constellation
Orcus was named after one of the Roman gods of the underworld. While Pluto (of Roman origin) was the ruler of the underworld, Orcus (of Etruscan origin) was a punisher of the condemned.
Transfer and Transformation of the Constellation
IAU Nomenclature
Under the guidelines of the IAU naming conventions, objects with a similar size and orbit to that of Pluto are named after underworld deities.
Mythology
no mythology
Weblinks
References
- References (general)
