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2002 Xv93

All articles tagged with #2002 xv93

Small Kuiper Belt Object Displays a Fragile Atmosphere, Defying Expectations
science2 months ago

Small Kuiper Belt Object Displays a Fragile Atmosphere, Defying Expectations

Astronomers using a 2024 stellar occultation detected signs of a thin, possibly temporary atmosphere around the tiny Kuiper Belt object 2002 XV93 (about 500 km across), challenging assumptions that such small bodies can hold an atmosphere. Any atmosphere would likely last under 1,000 years without replenishment, and no frozen surface gases were found by JWST to fuel it. Two scenarios are proposed: recent internal gas release or a comet impact. If confirmed, this would be the first atmosphere detected on a trans-Neptunian object other than Pluto, prompting further observations to understand the mechanism.

via BBC Sky at Night Magazine|
#2002-xv93#atmosphere#kuiper-belt
Small Kuiper Belt Object Carries Its Own Atmosphere, Astronomers Say
science3 months ago

Small Kuiper Belt Object Carries Its Own Atmosphere, Astronomers Say

Astronomers using stellar occultation detected a thin atmosphere around the 500 km-wide Kuiper Belt object 2002 XV93, a surprising find for such a small body that normally cannot retain gases. The atmosphere’s origin is uncertain—possible ice‑volcano outgassing or a recent impact—and could dissipate within about a thousand years. The study, published in Nature Astronomy on May 6, 2026, broadens ideas about where atmospheres can exist in the outer solar system.

via DOGO News|
#2002-xv93#astronomy#atmosphere
Tiny Kuiper Object Wears a Breath: Atmosphere Detected on a 500-km Plutino
space3 months ago

Tiny Kuiper Object Wears a Breath: Atmosphere Detected on a 500-km Plutino

Astronomers detected a surprisingly thin atmosphere around 2002 XV93, a ~500-km plutino in the Kuiper belt, via a 2024 stellar occultation observed from Japan. The inferred atmosphere is about 100–200 nanobars—extremely tenuous and likely transient—suggesting replenishment from a recent impact or ongoing cryovolcanism. This challenges the notion that atmospheres only form on large bodies and shows that small distant objects can host detectable atmospheres, with the research published in Nature Astronomy.

via ScienceAlert|
#2002-xv93#atmosphere#occultation
Atmosphere detected on a distant Kuiper belt object during stellar occultation
space3 months ago

Atmosphere detected on a distant Kuiper belt object during stellar occultation

A three-site stellar occultation of the ~250-km-radius trans-Neptunian object 2002 XV93 on 2024-01-10 revealed a refractive signature indicating a thin atmosphere with surface pressure around 100–200 nanobars, marking the first atmospheric detection beyond Pluto for a body of this size. This shows that even relatively small, distant icy worlds can host transient atmospheres, potentially sustained by cryovolcanic activity or a recent impact, and challenges standard ideas about volatile retention in the outer Solar System.

via Nature|
#2002-xv93#atmosphere#cryovolcanism
Tiny Kuiper World Displays a Delicate Atmosphere, Defying Size Assumptions
science3 months ago

Tiny Kuiper World Displays a Delicate Atmosphere, Defying Size Assumptions

Astronomers have found evidence of a thin, global atmosphere around a tiny icy Kuiper Belt object, (612533) 2002 XV93, about 300 miles across. Using stellar occultations observed in 2024 from three Japanese telescopes, the study suggests the atmosphere is 5–10 million times thinner than Earth's (and 50–100 times thinner than Pluto's) and may be composed of methane, nitrogen, or carbon monoxide. If confirmed, this object would be the solar system's smallest body with a detectable atmosphere, challenging the idea that atmospheres only exist on larger planets and dwarf planets. Independent verification is needed, and future observations—especially with the Webb Space Telescope—could reveal the atmosphere's makeup or its variability, hinting at internal gas sources or surface activity like ice volcanoes.

via Yahoo|
#2002-xv93#astronomy#atmosphere