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A possible long-lived belt of objects between Uranus and Neptune

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  • Matthew J. Holman

    (Canadian Institute for Theoretical Astrophysics, McLennan Physical Laboratories, University of Toronto)

Abstract

Recent discoveries of objects orbiting beyond Neptune1,2,3,4,5 have emphasized that our understanding of the distribution and dynamics of material in the outer Solar System is very incomplete. This trans-neptunian population—known as the Kuiper belt—is thought to act as a relatively stable reservoir of objects that could become short-period comets6,7,8,9, although there may be other regions of stability in the outer Solar System that could also supply such comets. Here I use numerical simulations to identify one such long-lived region between the orbits of Uranus and Neptune. I show that in the region 24–27AUfrom the Sun, about 0.3 per cent of an initial population of small bodies moving on low-eccentricity, low-inclination orbits could survive for the age of the Solar System. The actual existence of this hypothetical belt is not precluded by currently available observational limits, and there could be as much as ∼5 × 10−4 Earth masses of material populating this region—comparable to the mass of the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

Suggested Citation

  • Matthew J. Holman, 1997. "A possible long-lived belt of objects between Uranus and Neptune," Nature, Nature, vol. 387(6635), pages 785-788, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:387:y:1997:i:6635:d:10.1038_42890
    DOI: 10.1038/42890
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