Merrillville Community Planetarium
Bringing the Universe to the Merrillville Schools and Northwest Indiana

New Names

The International Astronomical Union (IAU) has officially named the Kuiper Belt objects formerly nicknamed “Xena” and known as 2003 UB313 and its moon nicknamed “Gabrielle”. Its new name is Eris, after the Greek goddess of discord and strife and the sister of Ares (God of War). Eris translated from Greek means “Discordia”. Eris’ moon is now named Dysnomia, after the demon goddess of lawlessness and daughter of Eris.