Makemake is a dwarf planet orbiting in the distant Kuiper Belt and is one of the largest bodies beyond Neptune. For years, it was informally known by the whimsical moniker “Easter Bunny.” This unusual name, which was never an official designation, is rooted in the coincidental timing of its astronomical detection. This article explains the origin of this informal nickname and its connection to the dwarf planet’s final, formal name.
The Moment of Discovery
The detection of this large Kuiper Belt Object resulted from a long-term survey to identify distant bodies in the outer solar system. The discovery team was led by astronomer Michael E. Brown, along with colleagues Chad Trujillo and David Rabinowitz. They conducted their search using the 48-inch Samuel Oschin Telescope at the Palomar Observatory. The initial observation confirming the dwarf planet’s presence was made on March 31, 2005. Makemake is the second-brightest object in the Kuiper Belt, only slightly dimmer than Pluto.
The Easter Bunny Nickname
The discovery team adopted the informal name “Easter Bunny” because the finding occurred shortly after Easter Sunday. The observation date, March 31, 2005, was just four days after Easter Sunday, which fell on March 27 that year. Since astronomical bodies require long tracking periods before official naming, the team needed an internal codename. The playful nickname “Easterbunny” was chosen to commemorate the timing of the discovery.
The team used this codename for communication and internal project notes for the next three years. This internal designation helped scientists manage the object’s identity before it received a formal, provisional designation. Although the nickname was never intended for public use, it became a recognized part of the dwarf planet’s history, linking the astronomical finding to the springtime holiday.
From Nickname to Official Designation
The International Astronomical Union (IAU) has strict rules for naming objects in the outer Solar System. Trans-Neptunian Objects (TNOs) like Makemake must be named after creation deities or figures from mythology. The team realized the “Easterbunny” name did not meet the required scientific formality. After the orbit was determined, the object received the provisional designation 2005 FY9.
The team submitted the name “Makemake,” which the IAU approved in July 2008. Makemake is the creator of humanity and the god of fertility in the mythology of the Rapa Nui people of Easter Island. This final name subtly maintained the connection to the holiday. Easter Island itself gained its name because a European explorer first encountered it on Easter Sunday in 1722, creating a continuity that honored the discovery date.