Tancredi's assessment

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In 2010, Gonzalo Tancredi presented a report to the IAU evaluating a list of 46 candidates for dwarf planet status based on light-curve-amplitude analysis and a calculation that the object was more than 450 kilometres (280 mi) in diameter. Some diameters were measured, some were best-fit estimates, and others used an assumed albedo of 0.10 to calculate the diameter. Of these, he identified 15 as dwarf planets by his criteria (including the 4 accepted by the IAU), with another 9 being considered possible. To be cautious, he advised the IAU to "officially" accept as dwarf planets the top three not yet accepted: Sedna, Orcus, and Quaoar.[1] Although the IAU had anticipated Tancredi's recommendations, a decade later the IAU had never responded.

Brown's assessment

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EarthMoonCharonCharonNixNixKerberosKerberosStyxStyxHydraHydraPlutoPlutoDysnomiaDysnomiaErisErisNamakaNamakaHi'iakaHi'iakaHaumeaHaumeaMakemakeMakemakeMK2MK2XiangliuXiangliuGonggongGonggongWeywotWeywotQuaoarQuaoarSednaSednaVanthVanthOrcusOrcusActaeaActaeaSalaciaSalacia2002 MS42002 MS4
Artistic comparison of Pluto, Eris, Makemake, Haumea, Gonggong (2007 OR10), Sedna, Quaoar, Orcus, 2002 MS4, and Salacia.
Brown's categories Min. Number of objects
nearly certainly >900 km 10
highly likely 600–900 km 17 (27 total)
likely 500–600 km 41 (68 total)
probably 400–500 km 62 (130 total)
possibly 200–400 km 611 (741 total)
Source: Mike Brown,[2] as of 2020 October 22

Mike Brown considers 130 trans-Neptunian bodies to be "probably" dwarf planets, ranked them by estimated size.[2] He does not consider asteroids, stating "in the asteroid belt Ceres, with a diameter of 900 km, is the only object large enough to be round."[2]

The terms for varying degrees of likelihood he split these into:

  • Near certainty: diameter estimated/measured to be over 900 kilometres (560 mi). Sufficient confidence to say these must be in hydrostatic equilibrium, even if predominantly rocky. 10 objects as of 2020.
  • Highly likely: diameter estimated/measured to be over 600 kilometres (370 mi). The size would have to be "grossly in error" or they would have to be primarily rocky to not be dwarf planets. 17 objects as of 2020.
  • Likely: diameter estimated/measured to be over 500 kilometres (310 mi). Uncertainties in measurement mean that some of these will be significantly smaller and thus doubtful. 41 objects as of 2020.
  • Probably: diameter estimated/measured to be over 400 kilometres (250 mi). Expected to be dwarf planets, if they are icy, and that figure is correct. 62 objects as of 2020.
  • Possibly: diameter estimated/measured to be over 200 kilometres (120 mi). Icy moons transition from a round to irregular shape in the 200–400 km range, suggesting that the same figure holds true for KBOs. Thus, some of these objects could be dwarf planets. 611 objects as of 2020.
  • Probably not: diameter estimated/measured to be under 200 km. No icy moon under 200 km is round, and the same may be true of KBOs. The estimated size of these objects would have to be in error for them to be dwarf planets.

Beside the five accepted by the IAU, the 'nearly certain' category includes Gonggong, Quaoar, Sedna, Orcus, 2002 MS4 and Salacia.

Grundy et al.’s assessment

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Grundy et al. propose that dark, low-density TNOs in the size range of approximately 400–1000 km are transitional between smaller, porous (and thus low-density) bodies and larger, denser, brighter and geologically differentiated planetary bodies (such as dwarf planets). Bodies in this size range should have begun to collapse the interstitial spaces left over from their formation, but not fully, leaving some residual porosity.[3]

Many TNOs in the size range of about 400–1000 km have oddly low densities, in the range of about 1.0–1.2 g/cm3, that are substantially less than dwarf planets such as Pluto, Eris and Ceres, which have densities closer to 2. Brown has suggested that large low-density bodies must be composed almost entirely of water ice, since he presumed that bodies of this size would necessarily be solid. However, this leaves unexplained why TNOs both larger than 1000 km and smaller than 400 km, and indeed comets, are composed of a substantial fraction of rock, leaving only this size range to be primarily icy. Experiments with water ice at the relevant pressures and temperatures suggest that substantial porosity could remain in this size range, and it is possible that adding rock to the mix would further increase resistance to collapsing into a solid body. Bodies with internal porosity remaining from their formation could be at best only partially differentiated, in their deep interiors. (If a body had begun to collapse into a solid body, there should be evidence in the form of fault systems from when its surface contracted.) The higher albedos of larger bodies is also evidence of full differentiation, as such bodies were presumably resurfaced with ice from their interiors. Grundy et al.[3] propose therefore that mid-size (< 1000 km), low-density (< 1.4 g/ml) and low-albedo (< ~0.2) bodies such as Salacia, Varda, Gǃkúnǁʼhòmdímà and (55637) 2002 UX25 are not differentiated planetary bodies like Orcus, Quaoar and Charon. The boundary between the two populations would appear to be in the range of about 900–1000 km.[3]

If Grundy et al.[3] are correct, then among known bodies in the outer Solar System only Pluto–Charon, Eris, Haumea, Gonggong, Makemake, Quaoar, Orcus, Sedna and perhaps Salacia (which if it were spherical and had the same albedo as its moon would have a density of between 1.4 and 1.6 g/cm3, calculated a few months after Grundy et al.'s initial assessment, though still an albedo of only 0.04)[4] are likely to have compacted into fully solid bodies, and thus to possibly have become dwarf planets at some point in their past or to still be dwarf planets at present.

Likeliest dwarf planets

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The assessments of the IAU, Tancredi et al., Brown and Grundy et al. for sixteen of the largest potential dwarf planets are as follows. For the IAU, the acceptance criteria were for naming purposes. Several of these objects had not yet been discovered when Tancredi et al. did their analysis. Brown's sole criterion is diameter; he accepts a great many more as highly likely to be dwarf planets (see below). Grundy et al. did not determine which bodies were dwarf planets, but rather which could not be. A red No marks objects too dark or not dense enough to be solid bodies, a question mark the smaller bodies consistent with being differentiated (the question of current equilibrium was not addressed).

Mercury, Iapetus, Earth's moon and Phoebe are included for comparison, as none of these objects are in equilibrium today. The first three of these objects are round at present, but Phoebe is not. Triton (which formed as a TNO and is likely still in equilibrium) and Charon are included as well.

Designation Measured mean
diameter (km)
Density
(g/cm3)
Albedo Per Grundy
et al.[3][4]
Per Brown[2] Per Tancredi
et al.[1]
Per IAU Category
No Mercury 48805.4270.142 (no longer in equilibrium)[5] (planet)
No The Moon 34753.3440.136 (no longer in equilibrium)[6][7] (moon of Earth)
N I Triton 2707±22.060.76 (likely in equilibrium)[8] (moon of Neptune)
134340 Pluto 2376±31.854±0.0060.49 to 0.66YesYesYesYes2:3 resonant
136199 Eris 2326±122.43±0.050.96YesYesYesYesSDO
136108 Haumea  1560 2.0180.51YesYesYesYes
(naming rules)
cubewano
No S VIII Iapetus 1469±61.09±0.010.05 to 0.5 (no longer in equilibrium)[9] (moon of Saturn)
136472 Makemake 1430+38
−22
1.9±0.20.81YesYesYesYes
(naming rules)
cubewano
225088 Gonggong 1230±501.74±0.160.14YesYesNA3:10 resonant
P I Charon 1212±11.70±0.020.2 to 0.5 (possibly in equilibrium)[10] (moon of Pluto)
50000 Quaoar 1110±52.0±0.50.11YesYesYescubewano
90377 Sedna 995±80?0.32YesYesYesdetached
1 Ceres 946±22.16±0.010.09 (close to equilibrium)[11]Yes asteroid
90482 Orcus 910+50
−40
1.53±0.140.23YesYesYes2:3 resonant
120347 Salacia 846±211.5±0.120.04MaybeYesMaybecubewano
(307261) 2002 MS4 778±11?0.10NoYesNAcubewano
(55565) 2002 AW197 768±39?0.11NoMaybeYescubewano
174567 Varda 749±181.27±0.060.10NoMaybeMaybe4:7 resonant
(532037) 2013 FY27 742+78
−83
?0.17NoMaybeNASDO
28978 Ixion 710±0.2?0.10NoMaybeYes2:3 resonant
(208996) 2003 AZ84 707±24? 1.1±0.20.10NoMaybeYes2:3 resonant
No S IX Phoebe 213±21.64±0.030.06 (no longer in equilibrium)[12] (moon of Saturn)

Largest candidates

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The following trans-Neptunian objects have estimated diameters at least 400 kilometres (250 mi) and so were considered "probable" dwarf planets in Brown's early assessment. Not all bodies estimated to be this size are included. The list is complicated by bodies such as 47171 Lempo that were at first assumed to be large single objects but later discovered to be binary or triple systems of smaller bodies.[13] The dwarf planet Ceres is included, but not other asteroids. Explanations and sources for the measured masses and diameters can be found in the corresponding articles linked in column "Designation" of the table.

The Best diameter column uses a measured diameter if one exists, otherwise it uses Brown's assumed-albedo diameter. If Brown does not list the body, the size is calculated from an assumed-albedo of 9% per Johnston.[14]

Designation Best[a]
diameter
km
Measured per
measured
Category
Mass[b]
(1018 kg)
H

[15][16]

Diameter
(km)
Method Geometric
albedo[c]
(%)
134340 Pluto237713030−0.762377±3 direct632:3 resonant
136199 Eris232616466−1.172326±12 occultation96SDO
136108 Haumea155940060.431559 occultation49cubewano
136472 Makemake142931000.051429+38
−20
occultation 83cubewano
225088 Gonggong123017502.341230±50 thermal143:10 resonant
50000 Quaoar110314002.741103+47
−33
occultation11cubewano
1 Ceres9399393.36939±2 direct9asteroid belt
90482 Orcus9106412.31910+50
−40
thermal252:3 resonant
90377 Sedna9061.83906+314
−258
thermal40detached
120347 Salacia 8464924.27846±21 thermal5cubewano
(307261) 2002 MS48003.5800±24 occultation< 11cubewano
(55565) 2002 AW1977683.57768+39
−38
thermal11cubewano
174567 Varda7492453.61749±18 occultation11cubewano
(532037) 2013 FY277423.15742+78
−83
thermal18SDO
28978 Ixion7103.83710±0.2 occultation102:3 resonant
(208996) 2003 AZ847073.74707±24 occultation112:3 resonant
(90568) 2004 GV96804.23680±34 thermal8cubewano
(145452) 2005 RN436793.89679+55
−73
thermal11cubewano
(55637) 2002 UX256591253.87659±38 thermal12cubewano
2018 VG186563.6 SDO
229762 Gǃkúnǁʼhòmdímà6551363.69655+14
−13
occultation14SDO
20000 Varuna6543.76654+154
−102
thermal12cubewano
2018 AG376454.19 SDO
2014 UZ2246353.4635+65
−72
thermal14SDO
(523794) 2015 RR2456263.8 SDO
(523692) 2014 EZ516263.8 detached
2010 RF436113.9 SDO
19521 Chaos6004.8600+140
−130
thermal5cubewano
2010 JO179600–9004 SDO
2012 VP113300–10004 detached
2010 KZ395974 detached
(303775) 2005 QU1825843.8584+155
−144
thermal13cubewano
(543354) 2014 AN555834.1 SDO
2015 KH1625834.1 detached
(78799) 2002 XW935655.5565+71
−73
thermal4SDO
2006 QH1815564.3 SDO
2002 XV935495.42549+22
−23
thermal42:3 resonant
(84922) 2003 VS25484.1548+30
−45
occultation152:3 resonant
(523639) 2010 RE645434.4 SDO
(523759) 2014 WK5095434.4 detached
(528381) 2008 ST2915434.4 detached
(470443) 2007 XV505434.4 cubewano
(482824) 2013 XC265434.4 cubewano
(523671) 2013 FZ275434.4 1:2 resonant
2004 XR1905384.3538 occultation12detached
2015 BP5195304.5 SDO
(278361) 2007 JJ435304.5 cubewano
(470308) 2007 JH435304.5 2:3 resonant
2014 WP5095304.5 cubewano
(145451) 2005 RM435244.4524+96
−103
thermal11SDO
2013 AT1835184.6 SDO
2014 FC695184.6 detached
(499514) 2010 OO1275184.6 cubewano
2014 YA505184.6 cubewano
2017 OF695184.6 2:3 resonant
2020 FY305174.67 SDO
(84522) 2002 TC3025143.9514±15 occultation142:5 resonant
(120348) 2004 TY3645124.52512+37
−40
thermal102:3 resonant
(145480) 2005 TB1905074.4507+127
−116
thermal15detached
(470599) 2008 OG195064.7 SDO
2014 FC725064.7 detached
2014 HA2005064.7 SDO
(315530) 2008 AP1295064.7 cubewano
(472271) 2014 UM335064.7 cubewano
(523681) 2014 BV645064.7 cubewano
2010 FX865064.7 cubewano
2015 BZ5185064.7 cubewano
(202421) 2005 UQ5134983.6498+63
−75
thermal26cubewano
(523742) 2014 TZ854944.8 4:7 resonant
(523635) 2010 DN934904.8 detached
2003 QX1134905.1 SDO
2003 UA4144905 SDO
(523693) 2014 FT714905 4:7 resonant
2014 HZ1994795 cubewano
2014 BZ574795 cubewano
(523752) 2014 VU374795.1 cubewano
(495603) 2015 AM2814794.8 detached
(455502) 2003 UZ4134724.38472+122
−25
thermal152:3 resonant
(523645) 2010 VK2014715 cubewano
2015 AJ2814685 4:7 resonant
(523757) 2014 WH5094685.2 cubewano
2014 JP804685 2:3 resonant
2014 JR804685.1 2:3 resonant
(523750) 2014 US2244685 cubewano
2013 FS284684.9 SDO
2010 RF1884685.2 SDO
2011 WJ1574685 SDO
(120132) 2003 FY1284604.6460±21 thermal12SDO
2010 ER654575.2 detached
(445473) 2010 VZ984574.8 SDO
2010 RF644575.7 cubewano
(523640) 2010 RO644575.2 cubewano
2010 TJ4575.7 SDO
2014 OJ3944575.1 detached
2014 QW4414575.2 cubewano
2014 AM554575.2 cubewano
(523772) 2014 XR404575.2 cubewano
(523653) 2011 OA604575.1 cubewano
(26181) 1996 GQ214564.9456+89
−105
thermal6SDO
(84719) 2002 VR1284495.58449+42
−43
thermal52:3 resonant
2013 SF1064514.96 SDO
2012 VB1164495.2 cubewano
(471137) 2010 ET654475.1 SDO
(471165) 2010 HE794475.1 2:3 resonant
2010 EL1394475.6 2:3 resonant
(523773) 2014 XS404475.4 cubewano
2014 XY404475.1 cubewano
2015 AH2814475.1 cubewano
2014 CO234475.3 cubewano
(523690) 2014 DN1434475.3 cubewano
(523738) 2014 SH3494475.4 cubewano
2014 FY714475.4 4:7 resonant
(471288) 2011 GM274475.1 cubewano
(532093) 2013 HV1564475.2 1:2 resonant
471143 Dziewanna4333.8433+63
−64
thermal30SDO
(444030) 2004 NT334234.8423+87
−80
thermal124:7 resonant
(182934) 2002 GJ324166.16416+81
−73
thermal3SDO
(469372) 2001 QF2984085.43408+40
−45
thermal72:3 resonant
(175113) 2004 PF1154064.54406+98
−85
thermal122:3 resonant
38628 Huya4065.04406±16 thermal102:3 resonant
(307616) 2003 QW904015401+63
−48
thermal8cubewano
(469615) 2004 PT1074006.33400+45
−51
thermal3cubewano
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  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Cite error: The named reference Grundy2019 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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  16. Cite error: The named reference mpc-sdo was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  1. Cite error: The named reference best_diam was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. Cite error: The named reference system_mass was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. Cite error: The named reference albedo was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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