Kuiper Belt (cont.)
- Largest object, Pluto, is about 2000km across.
- However, there may be as many as 1000 that are large enough to be considered planets.
- Although, only a small fraction have yet to be
discovered.
 |
.... |
.... |
.... |
... |
.... |
.......... |
.... |
......... |
.... |
.......... |
.... |
....... |
.... + many others |
| .. Pluto 25 |
.... |
Quaoar 25 |
.... |
Ixion 25 |
.... |
2002 TX300 |
.... |
2002 AW197 |
.... |
2002 UX25 |
.... |
Varuna25 |
.... |
- KB is important because objects' orbits tell us how Solar System formed.
- Orbits are eccentric and inclined.
- This can only happen if these objects gravitationally scattered off of bigger objects.
- So, KB orbits tell us something about where the growing planets were and when.
