Infographics 2023

A composite view of Pluto and Eris at scale (with an hypothetical texture for the disc of Eris)
A composite view of Pluto and Eris at scale with an hypothetical texture for the disc of Eris. Credit for the original view of Pluto: NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest Research Institute/Alex Parker. Credit for the original texture of Eris: Marc Lafferre, 2016. Montage credit: Marc Lafferre, 2023.
A composite view of Pluto and Eris at scale with an hypothetical texture for the disc of Eris (natural view with a scale). Credit for the original view of Pluto: NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest Research Institute/Alex Parker. Credit for the original texture of Eris: Marc Lafferre, 2016. Montage credit: Marc Lafferre, 2023.

This view reveals the two major dwarf planets of the Solar System, Pluto and Eris, at scale. Both worlds are almost the same size. Eris is the most massive dwarf planet in the Solar System and is slightly smaller than Pluto. Therefore, the mean density of Eris is higher than the mean density of Pluto. Remarkable views of Pluto were obtained from the New Horizons spacecraft during its historic flyby of Pluto and Charon on July 14, 2015. Eris evolves much farther from the Sun and no exploration spacecraft has ever been sent to that mysterious world that may be relatively bright. The view of Eris in this composite image is purely hypothetical.

Credit for the original view of Pluto: NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest Research Institute/Alex Parker.
Credit for the original texture of Eris: Marc Lafferre, 2016.
Montage credit: Marc Lafferre, 2023.
(Natural intelligence)

A simulated view of the Sun from a low orbit above the hypothetical surface of Eris
A view of the Sun from a low orbit above the surface of Eris. The represented surface of Eris in this view is hypothetical. Credit for the original texture of Eris: Marc Lafferre, 2016. Montage credit: Marc Lafferre, 2023.

This image reveals a view of our star, the Sun, from a low orbit above the hypothetical surface of Eris. The apparent diameter of the Sun from the surface of Eris would appear about 96 times smaller than its apparent diameter from the surface of the Earth. At the aphelion, the apparent magnitude of the Sun from the surface of Eris will be approximately -16.7. The orbit of Eris is highly elliptical so that the dwarf planet can evolve much closer to the Sun during its long year. The current position of Eris is close to the aphelion.

Credit for the original texture of Eris: Marc Lafferre, 2016.
Montage credit: Marc Lafferre, 2023.
(Natural intelligence)

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