Ixion

Lost in the icy depths of the Kuiper Belt, Ixion is a mysterious planetoid orbiting far beyond Neptune. Discovered in 2001, it is one of those distant worlds that remind us just how vast the Solar System is… and how many secrets it still holds.

What makes Ixion unique? It belongs to the same family as Pluto, sharing an orbit in resonance with Neptune : while Neptune orbits the Sun three times, Ixion orbits it exactly twice. This perfectly balanced cosmic dance keeps it stable despite its eccentricity. And with its reddish surface, likely tinted with organic ices and complex compounds (the famous tholins), Ixion offers a chemical glimpse into the origins of our solar system. It is thought that it might even hold traces of past activity, valuable clues to the formation of icy worlds.

FLASH NEWS: Ixion is a character from Greek mythology, king of the Lapiths. He committed several crimes, including the murder of his stepfather. Thanks to his clemency, Zeus purified him and invited him to Olympus. Once there, he tried to seduce Hera. The king of Olympus created a cloud (a nymph of clouds and rain) in Hera's image, and Ixion united with it. Zeus punished him for his actions and bound him to a wheel of fire that turned eternally. From his union with the cloud was born Centaur, the father of the centaurs.

No need for a super long trip to get there! You can add the Ixion sticker to your collection right now! It's waiting for you on our website!

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PUN: Check out my frozen Ix-ions!