Q 01/05

No probe has visited Makemake. How does it appear even through a large telescope?

A) A star-like point of light

B) A small crescent shape

C) A fuzzy comet-like blob

D) A disc with visible dark patches

Answer · why

A) A star-like point of light

Its angular diameter is only about 38 milliarcseconds, so no high-resolution image of its surface exists.

Q 02/05

In which region of the Solar System does Makemake orbit?

A) The asteroid belt

B) The Oort cloud

C) The Kuiper belt

D) Between Saturn and Uranus

Answer · why

C) The Kuiper belt

It is a disc of icy bodies beyond Neptune, and Makemake is the largest member of its classical population.

Q 03/05

Makemake's diameter is roughly what fraction of Pluto's?

A) 60%

B) 70%

C) 80%

D) 90%

Answer · why

A) 60%

At about 1,430 km across it is also roughly 11% the diameter of Earth.

Q 04/05

Which astronomer led the team that discovered Makemake?

A) Clyde Tombaugh

B) Alan Stern

C) Jane Luu

D) Michael E. Brown

Answer · why

D) Michael E. Brown

The same Caltech team also found Eris and Haumea, and Brown later wrote a memoir titled How I Killed Pluto.

Q 05/05

In which year was Makemake discovered?

A) 1998

B) 2001

C) 2003

D) 2005

Answer · why

D) 2005

The discovery images were taken on March 31, but Brown did not spot the object until April 3.