Gonggong: a dwarf planet that spins on its side
Dwarf planet Gonggong's extreme 70-degree axial tilt, likely caused by ancient gravitational interactions, reveals the dynamic forces shaping our solar system's outer reaches.
Meet Gonggong, a dwarf planet with an astonishing 70-degree axial tilt, making it spin almost on its side! Discovered in 2007, this extreme tilt is one of the highest among known solar system bodies, far surpassing Earth's modest 23.5-degree lean. Researchers believe this unusual orientation resulted from gravitational tugs from Neptune and other giant planets as Gonggong journeyed through the Kuiper Belt over billions of years.
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