Properties
Magnitude
17.3
Angular Size
0.039 arcmin
Type: Dwarf Planet
Distance: 43.005 AU
Orbital Period: 102998.0 days
Diameter: 2,322 km
Features: Crystalline water-ice with a darker reddish 'Dark Red Spot' region
Highly elongated (2322×1704×1138 km) from rapid 3.9-hour rotation, the fastest of any large solar-system body. Has crystalline-ice surface, two moons (Hi'iaka, Namaka), and a narrow ring (discovered 2017).
Position & Identifiers
Physical Properties
Diameter
2,322 km
(0.18× Earth)
Mass
4.0e21 kg
Albedo
0.66
(66% reflected)
Temperature
-241°C
Rotation
3.9 hours
Surface
Crystalline water-ice with a darker reddish 'Dark Red Spot' region
Angular Size
0.1″ (current)
Orbital Properties
Semi-major Axis
43.0050 AU
(6,433.5 million km)
Eccentricity
0.1958
Inclination
28.21°
Orbital Period
281.99 years
Distance
48.916 AU
(6.78 light-hours)
Elongation
150.5°
Near opposition
Observing Tips
Best Months
March
, April
, May
Visibility
Large telescope only
Where to Look
In Boötes
Notes
Highly elongated (2322×1704×1138 km) from rapid 3.9-hour rotation, the fastest of any large solar-system body. Has crystalline-ice surface, two moons (Hi'iaka, Namaka), and a narrow ring (discovered 2017).
Discovery
Discovered by
Mike Brown / José Luis Ortiz Moreno (disputed)
Date
2004-12-28
Current Ephemeris
48.916
AU from Earth
7.32B
km
0.1″
Angular Size
150°
Elongation
How easy to spot?
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| Telescope | Bortle 3 | Bortle 4 | Bortle 5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80 mm refractor 80mm refr. | Imp. | Imp. | Imp. |
| 150 mm Newton 150mm Newt. | Imp. | Imp. | Imp. |
| Celestron C8 (203 mm SCT) C8 203mm | Imp. | Imp. | Imp. |
Easy
Medium
Hard
Very hard
Impossible
Bortle 3 = rural · 4 = outer suburbs · 5 = suburbs
Out of reach for typical amateur telescopes, even at Bortle 3.
Out of reach
on Seestar S50
Visibility
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Community Photos (1)
Rendered preview of Haumea from the Nightbase orrery, lit from the current Sun direction with the terminator visible.
Credit: Nightbase orrery render.
Skybred Apr 27, 2026
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