136472 Makemake

136472 Makemake is a fascinating dwarf planet in our Solar System that has captured the attention of astronomers and space enthusiasts alike. With a 136472 Makemake radius of 725 km, making it 8.8× smaller than Earth's size, this celestial body presents unique characteristics that distinguish it from other objects in our cosmic neighborhood. Positioned at an average distance of 6.78e+9 km (45.344 AU) from the Sun, 136472 Makemake occupies a significant place in the Solar System's architecture.

The 136472 Makemake physical characteristics reveal a world of remarkable dimensions and properties. The 136472 Makemake radius measures 725 km, making it 8.8× smaller than Earth's size. The equatorial radius of 745 km and polar radius of 715 km create a slight flattening of 4.03%, indicating the planet's rotation affects its shape. The 136472 Makemake mass of 4.40e+21 kg represents 1357.3× smaller than Earth's mass, giving this world substantial gravitational influence. With a volume of 1.70e+9 km³, 136472 Makemake occupies significant space in the Solar System. The 136472 Makemake density of 1.4 g/cm³ (3.9× smaller than Earth's density) provides clues about its internal composition, while the surface gravity of 0.5 m/s² (19.6× smaller than Earth's gravity) determines how objects behave on its surface. The low density indicates a composition dominated by lighter elements, characteristic of gas giants or icy bodies.

The 136472 Makemake orbit reveals fascinating details about its journey around the Sun and its relationship to other Solar System objects. The 136472 Makemake orbit has a semimajor axis of 6.78e+9 km (45.344 AU), placing it 45.3× Earth's distance from the Sun. At its closest approach (perihelion), 136472 Makemake comes within 5.67e+9 km of the Sun, while at its farthest point (aphelion), it reaches 7.89e+9 km, creating a 32.8% variation in solar distance. The 136472 Makemake orbit is moderately elliptical with an eccentricity of 0.156 (9.3× Earth's orbital eccentricity), creating noticeable seasonal variations in solar radiation. The 136472 Makemake orbit takes 1.31 days to complete (279.5× smaller than Earth's orbital period), defining the length of its year. The orbital inclination of 29.007° indicates how much the 136472 Makemake orbit is tilted relative to the Solar System's ecliptic plane. This moderate inclination indicates a typical orbital evolution for objects in this region of the Solar System.

The 136472 Makemake rotation and axial orientation provide crucial insights into its daily and seasonal cycles, as well as its orbital dynamics. The 136472 Makemake axial tilt of 0° determines the intensity and nature of seasonal variations. With minimal axial tilt, 136472 Makemake experiences virtually no seasonal changes, maintaining relatively constant temperatures throughout its year. The orbital orientation parameters reveal additional details about 136472 Makemake's position in space. The mean anomaly of 165.514° indicates the planet's current position in its orbit relative to its perihelion. The argument of periapsis of 294.834° shows how the orbit's orientation changes over time due to gravitational perturbations. The longitude of ascending node of 79.62° defines the reference point where the orbit crosses the ecliptic plane.

The 136472 Makemake temperature and atmospheric conditions are fundamental to understanding its habitability and environmental characteristics. The 136472 Makemake average temperature of 32.0 K (-241.1 °C) (-402.1°F) provides the baseline for understanding its climate. These extremely cold temperatures make 136472 Makemake inhospitable to life as we know it, with any atmosphere likely frozen solid on the surface. Compared to Earth's average temperature of 15°C (59°F), 136472 Makemake presents a dramatically different thermal environment. Being farther from the Sun than Earth, 136472 Makemake receives less solar radiation, resulting in cooler conditions. The elliptical orbit creates significant temperature variations throughout the year, with extreme seasonal changes.

The 136472 Makemake escape velocity and shape characteristics reveal important details about its gravitational field and rotational dynamics. The 136472 Makemake escape velocity of 800 m/s (14.0× smaller than Earth's escape velocity) determines how easily objects can break free from its gravitational pull. This relatively low escape velocity means that gases and light molecules can easily escape into space, making it difficult for 136472 Makemake to retain a substantial atmosphere. The 136472 Makemake flattening of 5.0000% indicates how much the planet's rotation affects its shape. This significant flattening indicates rapid rotation that has substantially deformed the planet's shape, creating a pronounced equatorial bulge. The equatorial radius of 745 km compared to the polar radius of 715 km demonstrates this rotational deformation.