Object Analysis

Makemake is a dwarf planet and perhaps the second-largest Kuiper belt object in the classical population, with a diameter approximately two-thirds that of Pluto. It was discovered on March 31, 2005, by a team led by Michael Brown. It was named after the creator god of humanity in the mythology of the Easter Island people.

Makemake has a highly reflective surface with an albedo of roughly 0.77, suggesting it is covered in fresh ice. Spectral analysis reveals the presence of methane, ethane, and possibly nitrogen ices. It appears reddish in color, similar to Pluto.

It lacks a significant atmosphere when it is far from the Sun, but may develop one near perihelion. It has one known moon, S/2015 (136472) 1, nicknamed MK2. Makemake's discovery was one of the primary drivers for the IAU's decision to define the category of "dwarf planet."