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<div style="float:left;margin:0.5em 0.9em 0.4em 0;">[[File:Outersolarsystem objectpositions labels comp.png|120px|Known objects in the Kuiper belt]]</div>
<div id="mp-tfa-img" style="float: left; margin: 0.5em 0.9em 0.4em 0em;">{{main page image|Outersolarsystem objectpositions labels comp (cropped).png|Known objects in the Kuiper belt}}</div>
The '''[[Kuiper belt]]''' is a [[circumstellar disc]] in the [[Solar System]] extending beyond the [[orbit]] of [[Neptune]], at 30 to 50&nbsp;[[astronomical unit]]s from the [[Sun]]. It is similar to the [[asteroid belt]] between [[Mars]] and [[Jupiter]], but far larger—20 times as wide and 20 to 200 times as massive. Like the asteroid belt, it consists mainly of [[small Solar System body|small bodies]] that are remnants from the Solar System's formation. Many asteroids are composed primarily of [[Rock (geology)|rock]] and metal, but most Kuiper belt objects are composed largely of frozen [[volatiles]] such as [[methane]], [[ammonia]] and [[water]]. The disc was named after Dutch-American astronomer [[Gerard Kuiper]], though he did not predict its existence. Some of the Solar System's [[Natural satellite|moons]], such as Neptune's [[Triton (moon)|Triton]] and [[Saturn]]'s [[Phoebe (moon)|Phoebe]], are thought to have originated in the region. It is home to three officially recognized [[dwarf planet]]s: [[Haumea]], [[Makemake]], and [[Pluto]], the largest and most massive member of the Kuiper belt. Originally considered a planet, Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006. {{TFAFULL|Kuiper belt}}


The '''[[Kuiper belt]]''' is a region of the [[Solar System]] beyond the planets extending from the [[orbit]] of [[Neptune]] (at {{Nowrap|30 [[Astronomical unit|AU]]}}) to approximately {{Nowrap|50 [[Astronomical unit|AU]]}} from the [[Sun]]. It is similar to the [[asteroid belt]], although it is far larger—20 times as wide and 20 to 200 times as massive. It consists mainly of [[small Solar System body|small bodies]], or remnants from the Solar System's formation. While the asteroid belt is composed primarily of [[Rock (geology)|rock]], ices, and metal, the Kuiper objects are composed largely of frozen [[volatiles]], such as [[methane]], [[ammonia]] and water. The classical (low-eccentricity) belt is home to at least three [[dwarf planet]]s: [[Pluto]], [[Haumea (dwarf planet)|Haumea]], and [[Makemake (dwarf planet)|Makemake]]. Some of the Solar System's [[natural satellite|moon]]s, such as [[Neptune]]'s [[Triton (moon)|Triton]] and Saturn's [[Phoebe (moon)|Phoebe]], are also believed to have originated in the region. Since the belt was discovered in 1992, the number of known Kuiper belt objects has increased to over a thousand, and more than {{Nowrap|70,000 KBOs}} over {{convert|100|km|0|abbr=on}} in diameter are believed to exist. Pluto is the largest known member of the Kuiper belt, if the [[scattered disc]] is excluded. In Pluto's honour, the four currently accepted dwarf planets beyond Neptune's orbit are called "[[plutoid]]s".{{TFAFULL|Kuiper belt}}
{{TFATOPIC|Solar System}}
{{TFATOPIC|Solar System}}

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Latest revision as of 08:01, 13 May 2017

Known objects in the Kuiper belt
Known objects in the Kuiper belt

The Kuiper belt is a circumstellar disc in the Solar System extending beyond the orbit of Neptune, at 30 to 50 astronomical units from the Sun. It is similar to the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, but far larger—20 times as wide and 20 to 200 times as massive. Like the asteroid belt, it consists mainly of small bodies that are remnants from the Solar System's formation. Many asteroids are composed primarily of rock and metal, but most Kuiper belt objects are composed largely of frozen volatiles such as methane, ammonia and water. The disc was named after Dutch-American astronomer Gerard Kuiper, though he did not predict its existence. Some of the Solar System's moons, such as Neptune's Triton and Saturn's Phoebe, are thought to have originated in the region. It is home to three officially recognized dwarf planets: Haumea, Makemake, and Pluto, the largest and most massive member of the Kuiper belt. Originally considered a planet, Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006. (Full article...)

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