The
two moons orbiting Haumea are small without the
mass necessary to
assume a spherical shape:
Hi‘iaka
[1] named after the patron goddess of Hawaii and
daughter of Haumea was
discovered by M. E. Brown, David Rabinowitz and the rest of the
California Institute of Technology team on January 26,
2005. This larger and brighter satellite of Haumea has a
diameter
of 310 kilometers, a surface composition
similar to
its primary (probable confirmation of the impact theory) and no
apparent
atmosphere.
Namaka
[2] named after a daughter of Haumea, a water spirit, was discovered
by M.
E. Brown, Chad Trujillo and the rest of the Caltech
team on June 30, 2005. It has a diameter of
approximately 170 kilometers, a surface similar in composition to the
larger
moon (a thin layer of water ice surrounding a rocky core) and
no atmosphere.
[1]
Originaly nicknamed Rudolph because of its affiliation with Haumea (Santa).
[2]
Originaly nicknamed Blitzen because of
its affiliation with Haumea (Santa).
The
two moons orbiting Haumea are small without the
mass necessary to
assume a spherical shape: