All articles tagged with #arrokoth
A new study shows Arrokoth-like bilobed objects can form directly from the gravitational collapse of small pebbles in the early solar system, producing the snowman shape without violent mergers and suggesting such binaries may be more common in the Kuiper Belt; simulations found several instances of this outcome, supporting a calmer path to planet formation.
A new study using 54 simulations of pebble clouds (each with 100,000 particles) shows that peanut-shaped Kuiper Belt objects like Arrokoth can form through gentle gravitational collapse rather than violent impacts. About 29 of the simulations produced Arrokoth-like contact binaries, supporting the idea that such objects arise from mild formation processes, though only about 3% of the planetesimals formed a contact binary in the model, indicating more work is needed.
New computer simulations show that gentle gravitational collapse of pebble clouds in the early solar system can produce double-lobed, snowman‑like bodies such as Arrokoth, via two small planetesimals merging at about 5 meters per second to form a contact binary. The results support a gentle formation path for Kuiper belt objects, though the model predicts about 4% of objects form this way, while telescopic surveys suggest higher fractions, implying other formation routes may also contribute.
Researchers have simulated the conditions on the planetesimal Arrokoth and found that its red color likely comes from a surface rich in sugars formed by cosmic ray bombardment over 1.8 billion years. This discovery, made using data from NASA's New Horizons spacecraft, suggests that similar processes on comets could have contributed to the origins of life on Earth.
A study led by planetary scientist Alan Stern has discovered significant amounts of complex organic molecules, including sugars, on Arrokoth, a distant object in the Kuiper Belt. This finding, made possible by the New Horizons mission's 2019 flyby, provides new insights into the chemical processes of the early solar system and potentially the origins of life on Earth.
New research suggests that the Kuiper Belt object Arrokoth, also known as "Ultima Thule," may contain ancient ice, challenging previous models of Kuiper Belt object evolution. The findings could change our understanding of comets and explain explosive behavior observed in some of these bodies. The research team's model proposes that Kuiper Belt objects like Arrokoth maintain volatile ice for billions of years by forming a subsurface atmosphere that slows ice loss. This fresh approach to cometary interiors has implications for our understanding of the evolution of these important frozen remnants of the early solar system.
A new study on the trans-Neptunian object Arrokoth has revealed that its lobes are dotted with mounds, suggesting a common origin and shedding light on the formation of planetesimals in our solar system. The mounds share similar shape, size, color, and albedo, indicating that they clumped together to form the lobes. This discovery supports the streaming instability model of formation, where gentle collisions allow smaller objects to accumulate into larger ones. The findings may require a reevaluation of theories about planetesimal formation and could have implications for future missions targeting similar objects.
The Kuiper Belt object Arrokoth, known for its unique shape, has bumpy mounds on its larger lobe that may be remnants of boulders that fused together during its formation. Using data from the New Horizons spacecraft, researchers discovered 12 bumps with similar characteristics, suggesting they are the building blocks of Arrokoth. This supports the idea that planet formation begins with smaller objects merging together. Arrokoth's pristine condition and location in the Kuiper Belt make it an important object to study. Further research is needed to understand why the rocks are all similar in size. The findings provide insights into the early stages of planet formation and may help explain the preferred size of building blocks in the formation of ancient planetesimals like Arrokoth.
A new study led by Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) suggests that the large mound structures on the Kuiper Belt object Arrokoth may have a common origin, providing insights into planetesimal formation. These mounds, identified during NASA's New Horizons flyby in 2019, exhibit similar shape, size, color, and reflectivity. The findings support the streaming instability model, where low-speed collisions allow objects to accumulate and form planetesimals. Further exploration of pristine planetesimals, such as those targeted by NASA's Lucy mission and ESA's comet interceptor, could shed light on the accretion processes in the ancient solar system.
A study led by Southwest Research Institute suggests that the large mound structures on the Kuiper Belt object Arrokoth may have a common origin. These mounds, identified during NASA's New Horizons flyby in 2019, are similar in shape, size, color, and reflectivity. The findings provide insights into planetesimal formation models and could guide future missions to study other pristine planetesimals. The study highlights the need to explain the preferred size of these building blocks and suggests that similar mound structures may be common in the ancient solar system.
NASA's New Horizons probe, which flew by Pluto in 2015, has made three new discoveries in the outer solar system. The first is that Pluto's flip was caused by the formation of Sputnik Planitia, a 620-mile-wide basin that makes up half of the iconic heart-shaped region on Pluto. The second is that massive knife-like methane ice deposits extend to Pluto's far side. The third is that Arrokoth, a small object in the Kuiper Belt, is a gentle fusion of two objects that once orbited each other. New Horizons will also take color images of Uranus and Neptune as it studies distant Kuiper Belt objects.