Quaoar in the Kuiper Belt, artwork. Discovered in 2002 and with a diameter about half that of Pluto, Quaoar is one of the largest objects yet found in
Quaoar in the Kuiper Belt, artwork. Discovered in 2002 and with a diameter about half that of Pluto, Quaoar is one of the largest objects yet found in the Kuiper Belt. This region, which extends from the orbit of Neptune at 30 AU (30 times the Earth- Sun distance) to 50 AU, is composed of a huge number of small bodies - there are at least 70,000 with diameters greater than 100 kilometres. It is believed that these objects are remnants of the accretions which formed our own planets; the denser materials were closer to the sun and formed our planets, whereas these less dense parts were further out and joined together slower.
Size: 5906px × 3543px
Photo credit: © DETLEV VAN RAVENSWAAY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: 2002, 50000, astronomical, astronomy, astrophysical, astrophysics, belt, bodies, body, comet, cometary, comets, duo, icy, illustration, kuiper, lm60, object, objects, pair, physical, physics, quaoar, rock, rocks, solar, system
