65489 Ceto

65489 Ceto is a special kind of object in space called a binary trans-Neptunian object. It was discovered on March 22, 2003, by Chad A. Trujillo and Michael Brown at the Palomar observatory. This object is made up of two parts and is sometimes called (65489) Ceto–Phorcys. It is named after Ceto, a sea goddess from Greek mythology. The object came closest to the Sun, a point called perihelion, in 1989.

Physical characteristics

Ceto is a binary object, meaning it has two parts of similar size orbiting each other. Scientists used special telescopes like the Spitzer Space Telescope and the Hubble Space Telescope to measure their sizes. Ceto is about 174 kilometers wide, and its companion, Phorcys, is about 132 kilometers wide.

Because Ceto has two parts, scientists can calculate the total mass of the system. This helps them estimate how much each part weighs and learn about what they are made of. Ceto’s density is about 1.37 grams per cubic centimeter, which suggests it is made of a mix of rock and ice. The same forces that keep the two parts in orbit might also help explain their composition and movement.

Satellite

Ceto has a companion object called Phorcys. This companion was found on April 11, 2006, using the Hubble Space Telescope. It was named after a Greek sea god. The Ceto system, with both objects together, is considered a special kind of object in space.