New planetoid called “Sedna”

U.S. astronomers this week announced the discovery of a frozen, red world some eight billion miles from Earth this week — which they’ve named after “Sedna,” the mythological Inuit sea-woman.

It’s the most distant known object in the solar system and the largest object to be found orbiting the sun since the discovery of Pluto in 1930.

The word “Sedna” is likely an English-language corruption of “Siarnaq,” the mythical woman whose body parts gave birth to the various creatures of the sea.

Siarnaq is known by different names in various parts of the Inuktitut-speaking world, including “Talilajuk,” and “Nuliajuk.”

Astronomers are calling in the distant new world a “planetoid” because it does not meet the scientific definition of a planet. It’s only 800 to 1,100 miles in diameter, or about three-quarters the size of Pluto, and probably half rock, half ice.

Most planets and other celestial bodies have, until now, been named after characters from Greek or Roman mythology. “Pluto,” for example, is the Roman god of the underworld.

Breakwater’s fortunes show improvement

Breakwater Resources Ltd. is showing a profit in its fourth quarter, despite the impact of the closure of its Nanisivik mine on overall revenues.

The company’s revenues dropped to $51.4 from $104.2 million, but it made a small profit because of rising zinc prices.