All articles tagged with #kuiper belt
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.
Astronomers have discovered a new compact cluster of icy objects in the Kuiper belt beyond Neptune, called the inner kernel, which may provide insights into the early dynamics of the outer solar system and Neptune's migration. Using advanced data analysis and orbit recalculations, the study suggests this cluster could be a remnant of planetary movement or a separate formation, challenging existing models of solar system evolution.
Astronomers have discovered a new compact cluster of icy objects in the Kuiper belt, called the inner kernel, which challenges existing models of solar system formation and suggests complex gravitational influences, possibly from Neptune's migration.
Astronomers have found preliminary evidence of a potential ninth planet in our solar system, based on infrared data from decades-old sky surveys indicating a distant, Neptune-sized object beyond the Kuiper Belt. Further observations are needed to confirm its existence and orbit, which could explain gravitational anomalies observed in the Kuiper Belt. The discovery, if verified, would add a new ice giant to our solar system, similar in composition to Uranus and Neptune.
A recent study suggests the possible existence of a small, Earth-sized planet, dubbed 'Planet Y', in the outer Solar System, inferred from a 15-degree tilt in the Kuiper Belt objects' orbital plane, which could explain gravitational influences in that region. The discovery is not confirmed but provides a promising direction for future planetary searches.
Astronomers propose the existence of a new Earth-sized planet, 'Planet Y', in the Kuiper Belt based on orbital tilt patterns of Kuiper Belt objects, but its existence remains unconfirmed and will likely be investigated further with the Vera C. Rubin Observatory.
Astronomers propose the existence of a new potential planet, dubbed Planet Y, inferred from the tilted orbits of objects in the Kuiper Belt, with upcoming observations from the Vera Rubin Observatory expected to provide more definitive evidence.
Scientists using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope have detected methane gas on the dwarf planet Makemake, indicating it is a dynamic icy world with possible transient activity or a thin atmosphere, making it only the second trans-Neptunian object after Pluto to have confirmed gas presence.
Scientists analyzing the orbits of Kuiper Belt objects have found evidence suggesting the existence of a hidden planet, called Planet Y, which could be at least 25 times more massive than Pluto and located 100-200 times Earth's distance from the Sun. This discovery is based on the warped orbital plane of distant Kuiper Belt objects, and upcoming surveys like the LSST may confirm its existence.
Astronomers have unexpectedly discovered a potential new moon or dense ring around the distant dwarf planet Quaoar during a stellar occultation, challenging existing theories about ring and moon formation in the Kuiper Belt. Further observations are needed to confirm the nature of this object and its implications for planetary system formation.
Scientists now believe 'Oumuamua is a fragment of an ancient Pluto-like body ejected from the solar system, composed mainly of nitrogen ice, and not a typical comet, providing new insights into the chaotic early history of our solar system.
Scientists hypothesize the existence of a ninth planet, called Planet Nine, based on unusual clustering of Kuiper Belt objects and computer simulations suggesting a large, distant gas giant with an orbit 20-30 times farther from the sun than Neptune. However, its existence remains unconfirmed and controversial, with ongoing debates and challenges in observation.
Astronomers have discovered a new trans-Neptunian object, 2017 OF201, which has a vast orbit and potential dwarf planet size, suggesting more hidden bodies exist beyond Neptune in the Kuiper Belt. The discovery challenges previous assumptions about the emptiness of this region and highlights the power of open science in astronomical research.