Makemake’s tiny moon MK 2 was found in 2016 Hubble images
In 2016 astronomers announced a faint companion to Makemake — nicknamed MK 2 — spotted in Hubble images as a dark speck orbiting the bright dwarf planet.
The moon’s darkness contrasts with Makemake’s high albedo, hinting that the satellite may be coated in less reflective material or lack a fresh ice veneer. Its orbit also helps weigh the primary.
Moons unlock dwarf-planet physics. MK 2 turned Makemake from a lonely bright point into a miniature system you can clock and mass.
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