2018 VG18 (FAROUT)

April 29, 2019

Scientists have discovered the most-distant body ever observed in our solar system — located over 100 times farther than Earth is from the Sun.

About:

  • The new object has been given the provisional designation 2018 VG18.

  • It is nicknamed “Farout” by the team for its extremely distant location.
    • It is at about 120 astronomical units (AU), where 1 AU is defined as the distance between the Earth and the Sun. This makes it the first Solar System object observed beyond 100 AU.

    • The second-most-distant observed solar system object is Eris, at about 96 AU. Pluto is currently at about 34 AU, making 2018 VG18 more than three-and-a-half times more distant than Pluto.



  • Its brightness suggests that it is about 500 km in diameter, likely making it spherical in shape and a dwarf planet.

  • The new object has been discovered by a team of scientists from U.S as part of the team’s continuing search for extremely distant solar system objects, including the suspected Planet X, which is sometimes also called Planet 9.