# Mike Brown on Reddit (u/Dr_Mike_Brown)

Part of Scientists on Reddit, researched with Autumn (https://www.autumn.ai) from public sources. Updated 2026-11-07. Interactive version: https://www.autumn.ai/resources/scientists-on-reddit/mike-brown

Mike Brown: Caltech astronomer, found Eris and "killed" Pluto.

- Reddit account: [u/Dr_Mike_Brown](https://www.reddit.com/user/Dr_Mike_Brown/) (AMA only)
- How we know it's theirs: [The 2015 r/science AMA, posted from this account](https://www.reddit.com/r/science/comments/33tlbq/)
- Where they post, in the records we retrieved: r/science (68)
- Known activity in the posts we found: 2015 to 2015
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_E._Brown

## Moments

### u/Dr_Mike_Brown in r/science, Apr 25, 2015 · Behind the scenes

Replying to a redditor:

> Dr. Brown, if you weren't a planetary scientist, what do you imagine you'd be doing? Also, can you give us an example of a theory you tested and how you tested it?

> When we first discovered the dwarf planet Haumea we knew it was weird. Almost as dense as pure rock, but covered in pure ice, spinning faster than ANY large body in the solar system (~4 hrs!), and shaped like a stepped on American football. Why hypothesized: maybe it used to be bigger, but got smashed by another dwarf planet, knocking most of the ice off, spinning it up, stretching it out.
>
> Crazy idea, we were told by most of our colleagues.
>
> We found a pair of moons around Haumea, which looked like they might have been formed in an impact.
>
> Nuts, they said.
>
> Finally, we found a cloud of icy bodies associated with Haumea that was the ejecta from the giant impact.
>
> Of course, said everyone.

(Excerpt.)
Full thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/science/comments/33tlbq/comment/cqofkak/ · 172 points as of Nov 7, 2026

### u/Dr_Mike_Brown in r/science, Apr 25, 2015 · Behind the scenes

Replying to a redditor:

> So, first off I'd like to say I love all the work scientists do progressing humanity and life in general. You guys are awesome. Questions; in the line of work that you are involved in, how many new things are you discovering? Have you put a name yourself on any, and if so, what…

> I have had the privilege of naming Eris, Dysnomia, Haumea, Namaka, Hi'iaka, Makemake, Orcus, Vanth, Quaoar, Weywoot, Sedna.... I think that's it. There's also an asteroid named for me: Mikebrown. As I like to say, it's oddly inclined, and not very bright.

(Excerpt.)
Full thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/science/comments/33tlbq/comment/cqogud8/ · 43 points as of Nov 7, 2026