Atmosphere Detected Around Trans-Neptunian Object
- 06 May 2026
On 4th May 2026, a study published in Nature Astronomy reported the detection of a thin atmosphere around the trans-Neptunian object (612533) 2002 XV93, marking a rare discovery in the outer solar system.
Key Points
- Rare Atmospheric Discovery: The icy trans-Neptunian object (612533) 2002 XV93 is located in the distant Kuiper Belt beyond Neptune.
- Only Second Known Case: Previously, Pluto was the only known trans-Neptunian object with an atmosphere.
- Object Size: The object has a diameter of about 500 km, making it much smaller than dwarf planets Pluto and Eris.
- Extremely Thin Atmosphere: Its atmosphere is estimated to be 5-10 million times thinner than Earth’s atmosphere and 50-100 times thinner than Pluto’s.
- Possible Composition: Researchers believe the atmosphere may contain methane, nitrogen, or carbon monoxide gases.
- Potential Cause - Cryovolcanism: One explanation is ongoing cryovolcanic activity, where volatile gases and icy material escape through surface cracks.
- Alternative Explanation - Impact Event: Scientists also suggested the atmosphere may be temporary, formed after a collision with another celestial object released trapped gases.
- Observation Technique: The discovery was made using stellar occultation observations from ground-based telescopes in Japan, where the object briefly blocked light from a distant star.
- Kuiper Belt Object: The object lies in the Kuiper Belt, a distant region filled with icy remnants from the early solar system.
- Ancient Celestial Body: Researchers estimate it formed more than 4.5 billion years ago during the birth of the solar system.
- Orbital Details: The object takes 247 years to complete one orbit around the Sun and currently lies about 5.5 billion km away.
