Kuiper belt object

plural Kuiper belt objects · alternative Kuiper Belt object

1. astronomyA trans-Neptunian object (TNO) (a type of minor planet) that has an orbit in the Kuiper belt (between 30-50 AU) with inclinations consistent with the ecliptic.

   Synonyms: KBO, kuiperoid

plural Kuiper Belt objects

1. Alternative letter-case form of Kuiper belt object.

   An artist's concept of Arrokoth, a Kuiper Belt object visited by the New Horizons spacecraft in 2019.

   2021 July 28, Jonathan O’Callaghan, “2 Red Objects Were Found in the Asteroid Belt. They Shouldn’t Be There.”, in The New York Times, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 28 Jul 2021

   2 more examples

   Numerous Kuiper Belt objects orbit each other in this way though. And this raises one of the enduring debates of science: is Pluto actually a planet? On size alone, another Kuiper Belt object (2003 UB313) has to be given the planet accolade as well. […] Professor [Monica] Grady said: "When Pluto was first found it was fair enough to call it a planet. For me it seems pretty clear that Pluto is a Kuiper Belt object.[…]"

   2006 January 17, James Randerson, “Nasa's three billion-mile mission to Pluto must wait another day for blast-off”, in Alan Rusbridger, editor, The Guardian, London: Guardian News & Media, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 29 Aug 2013

   [David C.] Jewitt stared through telescopes for five years before finding the first recognized Kuiper Belt object, 1992 QB1, a 150-mile wide chunk of ice and dirt. […] Caltech astronomer Mike Brown, who has spent much of his career discovering Kuiper Belt objects, said Jewitt’s success resulted from a combination of creativity and stubbornness.

   2012 September 3, Eryn Brown, “Astronomy star gets his due for discovering the Kuiper Belt”, in Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles, Calif.: Los Angeles Times Communications, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 12 Nov 2020