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Distant Icy Body Found With Atmosphere
4 May
Summary
- A trans-Neptunian object, (612533) 2002 XV93, possesses a thin atmosphere.
- The discovery challenges assumptions about small, icy bodies in the outer solar system.
- Atmosphere may be sustained by cryovolcanism or caused by a recent impact.
In a significant astronomical finding, a trans-Neptunian object designated (612533) 2002 XV93 has been found to possess a thin atmosphere. This discovery, made by astronomers using ground-based telescopes in Japan, suggests that icy celestial bodies beyond Neptune may be more active than previously believed. The object, approximately 310 miles in diameter, orbits the sun at a similar distance to Pluto.
The atmosphere is extremely tenuous, estimated to be millions of times thinner than Earth's. Researchers are exploring two primary theories for its existence: either a long-lasting atmosphere supplied by cryovolcanism, where gases seep from the object's interior, or a temporary atmosphere resulting from a recent impact with another celestial body.
This finding, published in Nature Astronomy, implies that even small, cold worlds in the outer solar system can exhibit unexpected dynamism. The object, likely dating back over 4.5 billion years, resides in the Kuiper Belt, a vast region beyond Neptune. Further observations will aim to confirm the atmosphere's origin and composition.
