The Solar System - Word Search - PUZZLE #41 QUAOAR - August 2025

PUZZLE #41 - QUAOAR 

IN-CONTEXT WORD DEFINITIONS

TNO (Trans-Neptunian Object): This classification describes objects, like Quaoar, that orbit the Sun at a greater average distance than Neptune. Quaoar is specifically categorized as a cubewano (or classical Kuiper Belt object), meaning its orbit is relatively circular and not strongly influenced by Neptune's gravity.

Weywot: Weywot is the only known moon of Quaoar. Discovered in 2007, Weywot is significantly smaller than Quaoar and is believed to have originated from the same ancient collision that likely formed Quaoar's rings. It is named after the Tongva sky god and son of Quaoar.

Cryovolcanism: Cryovolcanism refers to the eruption of liquid or vapor phases of water or other volatile substances from the interior of icy bodies. The presence of crystalline water ice and ammonia hydrate on Quaoar's surface, which should be destroyed by radiation over time, suggests the possibility of recent resurfacing, either from impacts or cryovolcanic outgassing. This implies that Quaoar might have a more active geology than previously thought for such a distant object.

Ethane: Ethane (C2H6) is a hydrocarbon that has been detected as a solid ice on Quaoar's surface. While methane is more volatile and only retained by the largest Kuiper Belt Objects, Quaoar possesses enough gravity to hold onto some ethane, making it an intermediate case.

Ammonia Hydrate: Ammonia hydrate is a compound of ammonia and water. Its detection alongside crystalline water ice on Quaoar's surface suggests that resurfacing has occurred recently, as radiation should have destroyed these substances over a relatively short geological timescale compared to the age of the solar system. This supports the hypothesis of cryovolcanism or other active geological processes on Quaoar.

Reddish: Quaoar's surface exhibits a moderate reddish hue. This coloring is likely due to the presence of tholins, complex organic compounds formed by the irradiation of methane and other carbon-containing compounds on its surface. This suggests that radiation has been acting on the surface over time, leading to the formation of these reddish materials.

Trujillo: Chadwick A. Trujillo is an American astronomer and one of the co-discoverers of Quaoar. He first identified Quaoar in images taken at the Palomar Observatory in 2002.

Palomar: The Palomar Observatory is an astronomical research observatory located in California. Quaoar was discovered by Trujillo and Brown using the Palomar Observatory's 1.22-meter Samuel Oschin Telescope.

Tongva: The Tongva are a Native American people indigenous to the Los Angeles basin area of Southern California. Quaoar was named after the Tongva creation deity. This name was suggested by Trujillo and Brown, honoring the native heritage of the area where the discovery was made. The choice of the name reflects the spirit of the Tongva god who brought order out of chaos.

Secret Word: Surname of the American astronomer and the other co-discoverer of Quaoar along with Chad Trujillo. He is also credited with the discovery of Quaoar's moon Weywot. His research and publications have played a significant role in understanding Quaoar's properties.