Hubble Hunts Down Binary Objects at the Fringe of Our Solar System

STScI-PRC2002-04b Artist's Concept

ABOUT THIS IMAGE:

This is an artist's view of a Kuiper Belt binary object, called 1998 WW31. These icy bodies orbit each other at the fringe of our solar system. The illustration depicts one member of the duo in the foreground; its companion - the dark, round object - is in the background. The objects are about the same size. Both are illuminated from behind by the Sun [the white dot at upper left]. Like other Kuiper Belt objects, this duo orbits the Sun, completing a circuit every 301 years. The planet Pluto orbits the Sun every 248 years.

Object Name: 1998 WW31

Image Type: Artwork

Credit: NASA and G. Bacon (Space Telescope Science Institute)

NEWS RELEASE IMAGES

All images from this news release:

To access available information and downloadable versions of images in this news release, click on any of the images below:

---