Tag

Trans Neptunian Object

All articles tagged with #trans neptunian object

space1 month ago•11 min saved

Tiny 500-km world beyond Neptune may host a fleeting atmosphere

A 2024 stellar occultation suggests the 500-km trans-Neptunian object 2002 XV93 has a global atmosphere of about 100–200 nanobars, thin but detectable for such a small body; without replenishment it would escape in under 1,000 years. The gas species aren’t identified yet, and possible sources include a recent collision or ongoing cryovolcanism. Webb observations found no obvious surface ice reservoir to explain it, so independent verification through future occultations or infrared spectroscopy is needed to determine the origin and fate of this ephemeral atmosphere.

via Space Daily|

#atmosphere #cryovolcanism #impact

space1 month ago•11 min saved

One fleeting glimpse beyond Pluto hints at a hidden outer-solar-system population

Astronomers identified 2017 OF201, a ~700-km dwarf-planet candidate in a 24,000–25,000-year orbit, currently about 90 AU from the Sun with a perihelion near 45 AU and an aphelion near 1,600 AU. It was discovered by linking faint archival observations across two decades, meaning it is visible for only about 0.5% of its orbit. This narrow window implies there could be hundreds more similar bodies hidden in the outer solar system, highlighting census biases that only count objects bright near perihelion. While 2017 OF201 is not proof of Planet Nine, the work constrains models and shows how archival data can reveal distant worlds long after observations were made. The object's size is inferred from brightness assuming an albedo and may be rounded; its exact shape awaits future data.

via Space Daily|

#archival-data #dwarf-planet-candidate #outer-solar-system

science3 months ago•2 min saved

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

space4 months ago•3 min saved

Fragile Atmosphere Detected on Tiny Kuiper World 2002 XV93

Astronomers using stellar occultations detected a very thin atmosphere around the small trans-Neptunian object 2002 XV93, making it only the second TNO known to have an atmosphere after Pluto. The atmosphere is about 5–10 million times thinner than Earth's and is expected to vanish within 100–1,000 years unless replenished, possibly by cryovolcanic activity beneath the icy surface or by a recent impact. Observations via occultation are ongoing, with JWST follow-up planned to determine its composition and whether the atmosphere is fading or replenished.

via BBC Science Focus Magazine|

#astronomy #atmosphere #kuiper-belt

science5 months ago•3 min saved

Tiny Kuiper World Reveals Thin Atmosphere, Second of Its Kind

Astronomers observed the small Kuiper Belt object 2002 XV93 (about 311 miles across) during a stellar occultation and found a very thin atmosphere, making it only the second TNO known to have one after Pluto. The atmosphere, five to ten million times thinner than Earth's, could result from cryovolcanic activity or a recent icy impact; its persistence or dissipation could help distinguish between these sources. Future James Webb Space Telescope observations may detect additional gases like methane or carbon monoxide.

via Futurism|

#atmosphere #cryovolcanism #kuiper-belt

spaceastronomy5 months ago•87 min saved

Tiny Kuiper Belt World May Harbor a Real Atmosphere

Astronomers report evidence of a surprisingly thin atmosphere around the Kuiper Belt object (612533) 2002 XV93, a small icy body about 500 km across. If confirmed, the atmosphere would be extremely tenuous—roughly 5–10 million times thinner than Earth's—and may last under 1,000 years unless replenished. Independent verification is urged, with future JWST observations expected to help determine whether the atmosphere persists (suggesting a long‑term gas source) or fades (potentially from a recent impact).

via Live Science|

#astronomy #atmosphere #jwst

space5 months ago•74 min saved

Tiny Kuiper Belt World Grows a Mysterious, Vanishingly Thin Atmosphere

A diminutive trans-Neptunian object known as (612533) 2002 XV93 (a ~500 km Pluto-like body in Neptune’s 2:3 resonance) has unexpectedly developed a thin atmosphere (exosphere). Its presence was inferred from a January 2024 stellar occultation observed by a Japan-led team; the exosphere is extremely tenuous, with surface pressures of 100–200 nanobars—5 to 10 million times thinner than Earth’s. The atmosphere could originate from a recent impact or from cryovolcanic outgassing, but either way it challenges the idea that only large bodies can sustain atmospheres. If it’s impact-driven, the gas would escape within ~1,000 years; if outgassing, the source is ongoing beneath the surface. JWST observations and density monitoring in coming years should help pinpoint the cause. The discovery was published May 4 in Nature Astronomy.

via Space|

#atmosphere #cryovolcanism #kuiper-belt

space5 months ago•5 min saved

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

science5 months ago•182 min saved

Tiny Kuiper Belt World Reveals a Surprising Atmosphere

Astronomers using a rare January 2024 stellar occultation in Japan detected a thin atmosphere around the small trans-Neptunian object (612533) 2002 XV93, a body about 500 km across in the Kuiper Belt. The atmosphere is estimated to be 5–10 million times thinner than Earth's. It could be produced by cryovolcanism or a past impact; if replenished regularly, it might persist longer, otherwise it could dissipate in a few hundred years. Future observations, including with the James Webb Space Telescope, aim to determine its composition and evolution, potentially overturning assumptions that tiny, distant objects can’t have atmospheres and highlighting Kuiper Belt activity.

via CNN|

#astronomy #atmosphere #kuiper-belt

space5 months ago•19 min saved

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

science5 months ago•3 min saved

Tiny Distant World Displays Pluto-like Thin Atmosphere

Astronomers using stellar occultations found that (612533) 2002 XV93, a ~500-km trans-Neptunian object, has a thin, Pluto-like atmosphere, making it the first TNO with an atmosphere; the feature could be temporary or long-lasting, and further multi-site observations are planned to uncover its origin and evolution.

via Gizmodo|

#astronomy #atmosphere #occultation

space5 months ago•4 min saved

Tiny Kuiper World Could Host a Global Atmosphere, Study Suggests

A tiny trans-Neptunian object (612533) 2002 XV93, about 300 miles across in the Kuiper Belt, may have a global atmosphere, detected during an occultation in 2024 and thought to be 5–10 million times thinner than Earth's (50–100 times thinner than Pluto's). The atmosphere, if confirmed, could be methane, nitrogen, or carbon monoxide and might have been produced by ice volcanism or a comet impact; independent verification, likely with JWST, is needed, and some scientists urge caution until more data are in.

via CBS News|

#astronomy #atmosphere #kuiper-belt

science5 months ago•13 min saved

Whisper-thin atmosphere detected on a tiny Kuiper Belt world

Astronomers observed a January 2024 stellar occultation by trans-Neptunian object (612533) 2002 XV93, seeing its background star fade and recover, which provides evidence for a very thin atmosphere around this Pluto-like distant world in the Kuiper Belt.

via AP News|

#astronomy #atmosphere #occultation

science1 year ago•4 min saved

Astronomers Uncover New and Mysterious Worlds at the Solar System's Edge

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.

via SciTechDaily|

#2017-of201 #dwarf-planet #kuiper-belt

science1 year ago•2 min saved

Astronomers Find Rare Object Moving in Sync with Neptune

Astronomers have discovered a rare distant object, 2020 VN40, in the outer solar system that orbits the Sun once for every ten Neptune orbits, with a peculiar tilted orbit in resonance with Neptune, providing new insights into the solar system's evolution.

via Gizmodo|

#2020-vn40 #neptune #orbit