Minor-planet group

Kuiper Belt

A broad ring of icy bodies beyond Neptune's orbit.

Minor-planet groupRegion: ≈ 30–50 AU

Overview

The broad ring of icy bodies beyond Neptune, home to Pluto and the other classical trans-Neptunian objects.

3 modelled members.

Pluto
The largest and best-known Kuiper Belt object, a dwarf planet locked in a 2:3 mean-motion resonance with Neptune (the archetypal 'plutino'), explored by New Horizons in 2015.
CategoryDwarf planetDiscovered1930
Haumea
A fast-rotating, elongated dwarf planet in the Kuiper Belt, with a ring and two known moons.
CategoryTrans-NeptunianDiscovered2004
Makemake
A bright dwarf planet in the classical Kuiper Belt, one of the largest trans-Neptunian objects.
CategoryTrans-NeptunianDiscovered2005

Facts on this topic will be cited from these primary and reference sources.

NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration
Mission data, planetary science, space telescopes, and public-domain imagery.
Most NASA-produced imagery is in the public domain; individual items are checked for usage terms before publication.
NASA JPLJet Propulsion Laboratory / Solar System Dynamics
Orbital data, ephemerides, and small-body parameters for planets, asteroids, and comets.

Loading…