An artist’s impression of the trans-Neptunian object (612533) 2002 XV93). © NAOJ/Ko Arimatsu
Far beyond Neptune, the solar system is filled with cold, distant objects. Until recently, only the dwarf planet Pluto was known to have an atmosphere.
Now, astronomers have found another object, (612533) 2002 XV93, about 500 km wide, that also has a very thin atmosphere. Scientists are still trying to understand how it formed.
These distant bodies are called trans-Neptunian objects, and this one orbits the Sun at about the same distance as Pluto.
The discovery suggests that even small, icy worlds can sometimes have atmospheres. This challenges previous ideas and hints that processes like icy eruptions or recent impacts might create or maintain them.
Why it matters:
It shows that the outer solar system may be more active and complex than we thought, with more objects capable of having atmospheres, even if only for short periods.
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