On the relation of the sizes of trans-neptunian dwarf planets Pluto and Eris

TL;DR

This paper investigates the sizes of Pluto and Eris, using a semi-empirical approach to relate their orbital eccentricities to physical properties, concluding Eris is about 9% larger than Pluto.

Contribution

It introduces a semi-empirical method linking orbital eccentricity to physical size, providing new size estimates for Pluto and Eris.

Findings

Eris is approximately 9% larger than Pluto.

Estimated diameters vary based on shape assumptions.

Discussion on possible aspherical shapes of the dwarf planets.

Abstract

The discovery of the largest trans-neptunian object 2003 UB313 (dwarf planet Eris) was made more than 5 years ago, but the question on the true relation of the sizes of Pluto and Eris (and according to of their densities) remains debatable in view of a sizable scatter of their size's estimates obtained by the various methods. Here, we first used a semi-empirical approach to deduce the expression linking the orbital parameter eccentricity to the physical properties of the trans-neptunian dwarf planets and have applied it to determining the mean size of these planets. In doing so is proved that the mean Eris' size should be about 9 % larger than of Pluto's. Based on the published photometric data and the derived mean diameter the possible estimates of the minimum and maximum diameters of Pluto and Eris on the assumption of a deviation their form from spherical are provided. The probable reason for an occurrence of such an aspherical form of these dwarf planets is briefly discussed.