79360 Sila–Nunam

Sila-nunam

== 79360 Sila–Nunam ==

79360 Sila–Nunam is a trans-Neptunian object and a member of the Kuiper belt, a region of the Solar System beyond the orbit of Neptune. It was discovered on 3 February 1997 by astronomers Jane Luu and David C. Jewitt at the Mauna Kea Observatories in Hawaii. The object is named after the Inuit deities Sila and Nunam, representing the sky and the earth, respectively.

Characteristics

Sila–Nunam is a binary system, consisting of two components of nearly equal size. The primary component, Sila, has a diameter of approximately 250 kilometers, while the secondary component, Nunam, is slightly smaller with a diameter of about 230 kilometers. The two bodies orbit each other at a distance of around 2,780 kilometers with an orbital period of approximately 12.5 days.

The surface of Sila–Nunam is believed to be composed primarily of water ice and methane ice, similar to other objects in the Kuiper belt. The system's albedo (reflectivity) is relatively high, suggesting a surface covered with fresh ice.

Orbit

Sila–Nunam follows an elliptical orbit around the Sun, with a semi-major axis of about 44.1 AU and an orbital period of approximately 293 years. Its orbit is moderately inclined at an angle of 2.2 degrees to the ecliptic plane.

Discovery and Naming

The discovery of Sila–Nunam was part of a survey conducted by Luu and Jewitt to identify and study objects in the Kuiper belt. The object's binary nature was confirmed through observations made with the Hubble Space Telescope and other ground-based telescopes.

The names Sila and Nunam were chosen to honor the Inuit deities, reflecting the cultural heritage of the Arctic peoples. Sila represents the sky, weather, and life force, while Nunam represents the earth and its fertility.

Related Pages

• Trans-Neptunian object
• Kuiper belt
• Binary system (astronomy)
• Jane Luu
• David C. Jewitt
• Mauna Kea Observatories
• Hubble Space Telescope
• Inuit mythology