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Mysterious world beyond Pluto may have an atmosphere: astronomers
🇵🇰 Pakistan /Technology

Mysterious world beyond Pluto may have an atmosphere: astronomers

From Dawn · (9m ago) English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Japanese astronomers have detected evidence suggesting a small, distant world beyond Pluto, known as (612533) 2002 XV93, may possess an atmosphere.
  • If confirmed, this would make it the second known object past Neptune in our Solar System, after Pluto itself, to host an atmosphere.
  • The potential atmosphere is estimated to be extremely thin, millions of times less dense than Earth's, and its origin remains uncertain, possibly linked to ice volcanoes or a comet impact.

In a discovery that challenges our understanding of the outer Solar System, Japanese astronomers have presented compelling evidence suggesting that a small, icy world beyond Pluto, designated (612533) 2002 XV93, might have an atmosphere. This finding, if substantiated, would be a landmark moment, as it would mean this distant object shares a characteristic previously thought unique to Pluto among trans-Neptunian objects.

This is important because, until now, Pluto was the only trans-Neptunian object with a confirmed atmosphere.

— Ko ArimatsuLead study author Ko Arimatsu of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan told AFP that this discovery is important because, until now, Pluto was the only trans-Neptunian object with a confirmed atmosphere.

The object in question is approximately 500 kilometers wide and orbits the Sun nearly 40 times farther than Earth. Its potential atmosphere is estimated to be incredibly tenuous, perhaps five to 10 million times thinner than Earth's. Such a thin veil of gas would not be capable of supporting life, but its mere presence on such a small, cold world is scientifically significant.

This discovery therefore challenges the conventional view that small icy worlds in the outer Solar System are mostly inactive and unchanging.

— Ko ArimatsuHe added that this discovery therefore challenges the conventional view that small icy worlds in the outer Solar System are mostly inactive and unchanging.

Researchers are exploring possible explanations for this atmospheric phenomenon. One hypothesis involves gas being expelled from the world's interior through erupting ice volcanoes. Another possibility is that a comet impact could have temporarily kicked up surface material, creating a transient atmosphere that would gradually dissipate. The exact mechanism remains a subject of ongoing investigation.

I still doubt that it is an atmosphere. We need more data.

— Jose-Luis OrtizJose-Luis Ortiz, a Spanish astronomer not involved in the research who studies dwarf planets beyond Neptune, said the results were interesting, but urged caution.

From the perspective of Dawn, this discovery underscores the vast unknowns that still exist within our own Solar System. While Western media might focus on the implications for Pluto's planetary status, for us, the significance lies in the sheer diversity and unexpected nature of celestial bodies in the Kuiper Belt. It prompts further questions about the conditions necessary for atmospheric formation and stability on small, icy worlds, pushing the boundaries of planetary science and highlighting the need for continued exploration, perhaps with advanced instruments like the James Webb Space Telescope.

exotic alternatives

— Ko ArimatsuKo Arimatsu acknowledged that he could not rule out “exotic alternatives” to an atmosphere.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Dawn. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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