Unraveling the Enigma of Arrokoth's Mysterious Mounds in the Kuiper Belt
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.