Dysnomia is the name of one of the moons of the dwarf planet Eris, discovered in 2005. When asking “What color is Dysnomia?”, we are primarily concerned with the color of the moon as observed from Earth, given that it’s a distant and relatively small object.
1. Color Based on Observation
As of now, there hasn’t been a lot of detailed color imaging specifically for Dysnomia. The moon is so far from Earth and small that detailed observation is difficult. However, some indirect information can be gathered:
- Dysnomia’s Appearance in Telescopic Images: When viewed from Earth through telescopes, Dysnomia appears as a small, faint object. Its color is likely to be a grayish or slightly reddish hue, similar to the color of Eris itself.
- Eris, the dwarf planet, has a pale gray color with a slight reddish tint. This color is likely the result of complex interactions between sunlight and the surface ices, possibly a mixture of methane and nitrogen frost on the surface.
- Because Dysnomia orbits Eris, it is expected to have a similar appearance — a grayish or reddish color, though the exact hue might differ slightly due to variations in surface composition or the way it reflects sunlight.
2. Scientific Context of Color:
- The reddish or grayish hues seen on distant moons like Dysnomia could be attributed to the presence of methane ice or other compounds such as carbon monoxide or nitrogen that are common on outer Solar System objects.
- The reddish color is also a common feature of objects that are far from the Sun, where they are exposed to the space environment for long periods. The intense radiation (from cosmic rays) causes the surface materials to undergo chemical changes that can give objects a reddish appearance.
3. Size and Distance:
- Dysnomia is relatively small and only about 150 km in diameter, which makes it difficult to observe in great detail with current technology.
- It orbits Eris at a distance of about 37,000 kilometers and has an orbital period of about 16 days.
Conclusion:
While the exact color of Dysnomia is not definitively known due to the limited direct imaging available, it is most likely a grayish or reddish hue, similar to its parent body, Eris, due to shared surface properties and composition. However, more detailed observations in the future might reveal additional characteristics about the moon’s surface and color.