Questions tagged [kuiper-belt]
Questions about the circumstellar disk orbiting in the outer Solar System, beyond the orbit of Neptune.
43
questions
-10
votes
3
answers
964
views
Why isn't Eris considered a planet despite being the body of dominant mass?
The 2006 definition of a planet states that a planet is a celestial body that
(a) is in orbit around the Sun
(b) has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it ...
- 1,236
-1
votes
1
answer
201
views
If the hypothetical planet beyond the Kuiper belt exists, is it likely there are even more planets farther outside?
Since 2016 there are hints that a (probably) ice giant planet may exist far beyond the Kuiper belt. There are speculations that it may be a rogue planet captured by the Sun. But is it likely that ...
- 1,236
5
votes
1
answer
2k
views
What does the Sun look like from Eris at its aphelion?
At its aphelion (most distant location from the Sun) the outermost-known planet Eris is about 100 times as far from the Sun as Earth. What does the Sun look like from Eris' surface? Is there still a ...
- 1,236
7
votes
2
answers
279
views
Strange speck of light in the picture sequence of the approach to 2014 Mu69 (Ultima Thule)
In the picture sequence which was taken by New Horizons during the approach to Ultima Thule on the 3rd of Dec there can be seen a speck of light in the lower left corner, not as bright as 2014 MU69 ...
- 429
5
votes
1
answer
182
views
Could stellar occultations be used to survey Kuiper belt objects?
The first hint we had as to the shape of Ultima Thule was via an occultation study using an array of small telescopes. Has anyone investigated the feasibility and effectiveness of conducting a survey ...
- 263
7
votes
1
answer
134
views
What observations will be done during the New Horizons flyby of Ultima Thule?
On New Year's Eve 2018, the New Horizons spacecraft will fly past Ultima Thule (2014 MU69) at about a third of the distance it flew by Pluto some years ago. So it should be able to get some detailed ...
- 5,100
3
votes
1
answer
105
views
Are there recent estimates of Kuiper belt mass?
What is the mass of the Kuiper belt? Obviously estimates will be highly uncertain, but for my application I would like to find a decent current estimate.
The papers I found so far: (Gladman et al. ...
- 15k
3
votes
1
answer
134
views
Kuiper belt planet formation
There are a lot of objects of different sizes in the Kuiper belt. Are objects in the Kuiper belt stable? Is there any chance in the future that one of the larger objects would accumulate enough ...
- 103
9
votes
1
answer
214
views
What is the farthest reported distance from observer from which a solar system body has occulted a star?
I originally wrote "...farthest distance from Earth..." but changed to "observer" in case the occultation was observed from a space telescope. It may not matter much but I didn't want to over-...
- 30.7k
8
votes
1
answer
451
views
Is there an established distinction between a geyser and a cryovolcano in solar system bodies?
Is there an established distinction between a geyser and a cryovolcano in the context of cold solar-system bodies such as the moons of Jupiter and Saturn, or Kuiper belt objects (e.g. Pluto)?
Both can ...
- 30.7k
5
votes
2
answers
177
views
Which kind of strategy should we take to discover Planet 9 and other KBOs?
What are the differences between the discoveries of Sedna, 2012vp 113, and the supposed Planet 9?
All need deep infrared surveys at the ecliptic plane, but P9 needs a much deeper survey?
- 3,137
2
votes
1
answer
693
views
Orbital period for a 1 light year object?
How long would the orbital period be for an object the mass of the moon orbiting the sun at 1 light year in a circular orbit?
- 1,566
5
votes
2
answers
318
views
Which measurements have shown that 2014 MU69 is red? (New Horizons' next target)
The recent NASA feature article New Horizons: Possible Clouds on Pluto, Next Target is Reddish
MU69 is actually the smallest KBO to have its color measured – and scientists have used that data to ...
- 30.7k
3
votes
1
answer
134
views
Observed data: Why so many MPECs about TNOs lately?
The Minor Planet Electronic Circulars (MPECs)
for July 15 through July 18 reported an unusually high number of re-observations of known trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs).
These were found in the
Pan-...
- 18.7k
12
votes
1
answer
237
views
How does 2015 RR245 compare to the other KBOs predicting "Planet 9"?
2015 RR245 was recently announced, in a highly eccentric orbit in the KBO. From what I understand, the so called "Planet 9" was predicted because these objects tended to be pointed in a particular ...
- 3,092