A mystery lurks at the edge of our solar system. A team of researchers might have uncovered an unexpected structure that could change our current understanding.
Far beyond Neptune, a series of intriguing observations suggests the existence of a new frontier. What we thought was a boundary may only be the beginning.
The Kuiper Belt, long believed to be the ultimate barrier of our solar system, seems to conceal more than just a simple ring of icy bodies. In September 2024, a study published in
The Planetary Science Journal revealed 11 objects located well beyond the Belt, between 70 and 90 astronomical units from the Sun.
The discovery was made possible through the collaboration between NASA's New Horizons probe and the Subaru Telescope in Hawaii. These complementary instruments identified these bodies after years of searching in areas previously thought to be empty.
Behind this new series of objects lies the hypothesis of a second Kuiper Belt. Although less dense, it could redefine the edges of the solar system and provide a new perspective on the nebula that created it.
Astronomers point out that this discovery may explain why we've struggled to observe such distant objects. Indeed, the distance and narrow viewing angles have made these objects nearly invisible from Earth.
For Dr. Yoshida, this potential second belt could indicate that the solar system is more expansive than expected. A major discovery that rewrites our vision of the universe.
The Subaru Telescope (left) and the New Horizons space probe (right).
Credit: NAOJ/Southwest Research Institute
However, further research will be needed to determine whether these objects truly belong to a new belt or if they are merely wandering interlopers in space.
What is the Kuiper Belt?
The Kuiper Belt is a vast ring-shaped region located at the edge of the solar system, just beyond Neptune's orbit. It contains icy objects, such as dwarf planets (including Pluto), as well as comets. It's a zone primarily populated by small, distant celestial bodies that serve as remnants from the early stages of the solar system's formation.
The objects in the Kuiper Belt range from 30 to 50 astronomical units (AU) from the Sun. One AU represents the distance between the Earth and the Sun, approximately 93 million miles (150 million kilometers). These objects have stable orbits but move in a region that remains largely unexplored due to their remoteness and faint light.
Article author: Cédric DEPOND