A body on the edge of our Solar System has an atmosphere
Scientists found a thin atmosphere around (612533) 2002 XV93, an icy body 500km wide located beyond Neptune. The object orbits the sun at roughly the same distance as Pluto. Researchers are unsure how such a small body with weak gravity can maintain an atmosphere.
What changed
New reports identify the object as a trans-Neptunian body that was detected when it occulted a distant star.
Live updates
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Atmosphere Detected on Small Trans-Neptunian Object
confidence 90%Scientists found a thin atmosphere around (612533) 2002 XV93, an icy body 500km wide located beyond Neptune. The object orbits the sun at roughly the same distance as Pluto. Researchers are unsure how such a small body with weak gravity can maintain an atmosphere.
What's confirmed:
- (612533) 2002 XV93 is a trans-Neptunian object located beyond Neptune.
- The body is 500km wide and possesses a thin atmosphere.
- This object orbits the sun at roughly the same distance as Pluto.
Still unconfirmed:
- The object is a plutino.
- The atmosphere rewrites the rules of the outer solar system.
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Astronomers Detect Atmosphere on Tiny World Beyond Pluto
confidence 90%Scientists have discovered a thin atmosphere around (612533) 2002 XV93, an icy object in the Kuiper Belt. The body is 500km wide and located beyond Neptune. Researchers are currently unsure how such a small object with weak gravity can maintain an atmosphere.
What's confirmed:
- The object (612533) 2002 XV93 is located in the Kuiper Belt.
- The body is 500km wide.
- An atmosphere exists around this small object beyond Pluto.
- The object is located beyond Neptune.
Still unconfirmed:
- The atmosphere could be the result of an ice volcano or a comet crash.