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Astronomers Detect Atmosphere Around Tiny Icy World Beyond Pluto
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia /Health & Science

Astronomers Detect Atmosphere Around Tiny Icy World Beyond Pluto

From Asharq Al-Awsat · (7m ago) English Positive tone

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Astronomers may have detected an atmosphere around a small, icy world beyond Pluto, identified as (612533) 2002 XV93.
  • The object, a 'plutino' about 300 miles across, is potentially the smallest celestial body with a confirmed global atmosphere bound by gravity.
  • Researchers used telescopes in Japan to observe the object passing in front of a star, causing a dimming of starlight that suggests an atmosphere, possibly composed of methane, nitrogen, or carbon monoxide.

In a discovery that could reshape our understanding of the solar system's distant reaches, astronomers believe they have detected an atmosphere around a tiny, icy world located in the Kuiper Belt, beyond the orbit of Pluto. This celestial body, formally known as (612533) 2002 XV93 and classified as a 'plutino,' is roughly 300 miles (500 kilometers) in diameter.

This is an amazing development, but it sorely needs independent verification. The implications are profound if verified.

— Alan SternCommenting on the significance and need for confirmation of the atmospheric detection.

Lead researcher Ko Arimatsu of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan stated that this finding, if independently verified, represents a significant development. The object is thought to be the smallest in the solar system yet to exhibit a clearly detected global atmosphere held by gravity. This challenges the conventional view that atmospheres are primarily associated with larger planets, dwarf planets, and some major moons.

It changes our view of small worlds in the solar system, not only beyond Neptune.

— Ko ArimatsuDescribing the impact of the discovery on understanding small celestial bodies.

The detection was made possible by observations using three telescopes in Japan in 2024. As the object passed in front of a background star, it briefly dimmed the starlight, an effect consistent with the presence of an atmosphere. Arimatsu suggested that the most likely atmospheric components are methane, nitrogen, or carbon monoxide. The study, published in Nature Astronomy, indicates that this atmosphere is incredibly thin, estimated to be 5 million to 10 million times thinner than Earth's atmosphere and 50 to 100 times thinner than Pluto's.

genuinely surprising

— Ko ArimatsuExpressing surprise at finding an atmosphere around such a small object.

Further observations, particularly using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, are crucial for confirming the atmosphere's composition and persistence. Arimatsu noted that if the atmosphere fades over time, it might suggest an origin from an impact event. Conversely, if it remains stable or varies seasonally, it could point to an ongoing internal gas supply, possibly from ice volcanoes. This discovery opens new avenues for exploring the nature of small, icy worlds in the outer solar system.

the conventional view that atmospheres are limited to large planets, dwarf planets and some large moons.

— Ko ArimatsuExplaining how the finding challenges existing scientific understanding.
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Originally published by Asharq Al-Awsat in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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