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Arrokoth's Cosmic Secret: Gravitational Collapse Confirmed
20 Feb
Summary
- Computer simulations confirm gravitational collapse forms double-lobed objects.
- Arrokoth's shape formed from pebbles clumping and gently merging.
- New model accounts for particle physics at contact, unlike older simulations.
Researchers have utilized computer simulations to demonstrate how Arrokoth, an ancient object in the Kuiper belt, acquired its distinctive snowman-like, double-lobed shape. These simulations confirm the long-standing theory that such celestial bodies form through gravitational collapse within rotating pebble clouds.
The simulations revealed that as pebble clouds collapse, they can form two smaller planetesimals. These then orbit each other and eventually merge at low velocities, creating a contact binary. This process, unlike earlier models, incorporates the physics of how particles rest upon contact.
This new understanding supports the hypothesis that Arrokoth and similar planetesimals formed through gentle, non-violent processes. While simulations suggest only a small fraction of objects form this way, experts note that further research may reconcile these findings with telescopic observations.
