Did Eris melt in its history to separate rock and ice?

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Eris Melted in its History to Separate Rock and Ice

Scientists believe that the dwarf planet Eris experienced a period in its history where it became hot enough to melt, allowing its rocky components to separate from its icy shell and sink to the centre. This internal differentiation suggests a more geologically active past than previously understood for this distant celestial body. The ice on Eris is currently undergoing slow churning motions, a process attributed to residual internal heat.
Internal Structure and Composition

Eris possesses a rocky interior situated beneath a substantial shell of ice. This composition contrasts with Pluto, which also has an icy exterior with rock below but is thought to have a higher ice content and potentially a subsurface liquid ocean. Eris's greater concentration of rock, a denser material than ice, contributes to its higher mass compared to Pluto, making it approximately 25 per cent more massive.
Size and Mass Comparison

With a diameter of about 1,445 miles (2,326 km), Eris is slightly smaller than Pluto, which measures approximately 1,473 miles (2,370 km) across. For perspective, Earth's Moon has a diameter of about 2,160 miles (3,475 km). The increased mass of Eris is a direct consequence of its proportionally larger rocky core relative to its icy components.
Orbital Characteristics and Environment

Eris orbits the Sun at an average distance of about 68 times further than Earth, requiring 557 years to complete a single revolution. This is significantly further than Pluto's orbit, which averages about 39 times Earth's distance from the Sun. Due to its extreme distance from the Sun, the Sun would appear as little more than a bright star in the sky from Eris, resembling perpetual dusk.

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Did Eris melt in its history to separate rock and ice?

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