(136108) Haumea Trans-Neptunian Object
Discovered on 7 March 2003 by Sierra Nevada at Sierra Nevada.
Haumea is the goddess of childbirth and fertility in Hawaiian mythology. Her many children sprang from different parts of her body. She takes many different forms and has experienced many different rebirths. As the goddess of the earth, she represents the element of stone. The satellites (136108) Haumea I and II were discovered by M. E. Brown, A. H. Bouchez and the Keck Observatory Adaptive Optics teams. Haumea I, discovered 2005 Jan. 26, is named Hi'iaka, who was born from the mouth of Haumea and carried by her sister Pele in egg form from their distant home to Hawaii. Hi'iaka danced the first Hula on the shores of Puna and is the patron goddess of the island of Hawaii and of hula dancers. Haumea II, discovered 2005 Nov. 7, is named Namaka, for a water spirit in Hawaiian mythology. Namaka was born from the body of Haumea and is the sister of Pele. When Pele sends her burning lava into the sea, Namaka cools the lava to become new land.Naming citation (20080917/MPCPages.arc), IAU / Minor Planet Center, via NASA/JPL
Where Haumea is today
Seen from above the solar system on 2026-10-14: Haumea is 49.8 au from the Sun and 50.6 au from Earth. Computed from JPL's orbital elements.
Facts
| Number | 136108 |
| Provisional designation | 2003 EL61 |
| Orbit class | Trans-Neptunian Object |
| Rotation period | 3.92 hours |
| Absolute magnitude (H) | 0.14 |
| Orbital period | 283 years |
| Semi-major axis | 43.1 au |
| Perihelion – aphelion | 34.7 – 51.4 au |
| Eccentricity | 0.194 |
| Inclination | 28.2° |
| Closest distance between its orbit and Earth's (MOID) | 33.8 au |
Data: NASA/JPL Small-Body Database and the IAU Minor Planet Center.