The farthest known object in our solar system has been identified by astronomers.
It has been given the proper nickname “Farfarout” and is classified as a “planetoid”.
This means that it is too small to be considered a planet or a dwarf planet, but it is still a mass orbiting our Sun.
There was a time when astronomers believed that Pluto was the farthest object orbiting the Sun.
Technological advances mean that scientists now have a much deeper look at space.
Scientifically known as the 2018 AG37, Farfarout is about 12.4 billion miles from the Sun.
In comparison, the Earth is only 93 million miles away.
The dwarf planet Pluto is about 3.7 billion miles away.
However, Farfarout occasionally approaches the Sun and Earth through its 1,000-year orbit.
The shape of the orbit means that there is a point every 1,000 years when Farfarout gets closer to the Sun than both Neptune and Pluto.
So it may be the farthest object in our solar system yet, but it won’t always hold that title.
There is a dwarf planet called Goblin, which is currently closer to the Sun than Farfarout, but has the potential to move much further away from its orbital path.
Researcher David Tholen of the University of Hawai’i said: “The orbital dynamics of Farfarout can help us understand how Neptune formed and evolved, because Farfarout was probably thrown into the outer solar system by being too close to Neptune in the distant past.
“Farfarout will likely interact with Neptune again as their orbits continue to intersect.”
Farfarout’s 1,000-year orbit meant that researchers had to study it for years to determine its trajectory.
It was actually discovered in 2018, but the exact distance had not been established until recently.
Astronomers believe it is about 250 miles wide.
It will remain under observation and will eventually receive a more serious official name than Farfarout and less specific data than the 2018 AG37.
