Kuiper Belt (cont.)
- Largest objects, "Xena" and Pluto, are about 2000 km across. But,
there could be larger ones.
- 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 |
| "Xena" 25 |
.... |
.... Pluto 25 |
..... |
2005 FY9 |
.... |
2003 EL61 |
.... |
Sedna 2 |
.... |
Orcus 2 |
.... |
- 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.
