The objects between 42 and 47 AU are in very stable orbits – not affected in any significant way by any of the planets. Like the “classical” planets, these objects are in nearly circular orbits, so were given the name
“Classical KBOs” (CKBOs), by David Jewitt. Of the CKBOs, about one-third have a low orbital inclination of around 2o – these are the “Cold” CKBOs. The remaining two-thirds have a much higher inclination of up to 20o or more – the “Hot” CKBOs. Hot and cold do not have anything to do with temperature here – hot refers to highly inclined orbits. The Hot
CKBOs also have a slightly higher eccentricity, and the differences in these parameters may mean some other large object has disturbed their orbits. In addition, the cold group appears …show more content…
Figure 1 shows the location of the Kuiper Belt and some orbital properties of the Classical objects.
At particular distances within the Kuiper Belt are the Resonant KBOs (RKBOs). They are given this name because their orbital periods are in resonance with Neptune (or at least very close) meaning that the number of times the object orbits the sun, and the number of times Neptune orbits the sun are tidy ratios such as 2:1, 3:2 and several others. Objects at a particular resonance all orbit at about the same average distance from the sun. Pluto, for example, averages about 39.4 AU from the sun and is in 3:2 resonance with Neptune. This means for every two orbits made by Neptune, Pluto makes three. Those with 3:2 resonance are called “Plutinos” and all orbit at about 39.4 AU. Another group is in 2:1 resonance with
Neptune and these make two orbits for each single orbit made by Neptune. These objects are “twotinos”, all averaging about 47.8 AU. Other examples are resonances of 4:3 at 36.5AU and 7:4 at 43.7AU. These objects are protected from any further disruption because their orbits ensure
“Classical KBOs” (CKBOs), by David Jewitt. Of the CKBOs, about one-third have a low orbital inclination of around 2o – these are the “Cold” CKBOs. The remaining two-thirds have a much higher inclination of up to 20o or more – the “Hot” CKBOs. Hot and cold do not have anything to do with temperature here – hot refers to highly inclined orbits. The Hot
CKBOs also have a slightly higher eccentricity, and the differences in these parameters may mean some other large object has disturbed their orbits. In addition, the cold group appears …show more content…
Figure 1 shows the location of the Kuiper Belt and some orbital properties of the Classical objects.
At particular distances within the Kuiper Belt are the Resonant KBOs (RKBOs). They are given this name because their orbital periods are in resonance with Neptune (or at least very close) meaning that the number of times the object orbits the sun, and the number of times Neptune orbits the sun are tidy ratios such as 2:1, 3:2 and several others. Objects at a particular resonance all orbit at about the same average distance from the sun. Pluto, for example, averages about 39.4 AU from the sun and is in 3:2 resonance with Neptune. This means for every two orbits made by Neptune, Pluto makes three. Those with 3:2 resonance are called “Plutinos” and all orbit at about 39.4 AU. Another group is in 2:1 resonance with
Neptune and these make two orbits for each single orbit made by Neptune. These objects are “twotinos”, all averaging about 47.8 AU. Other examples are resonances of 4:3 at 36.5AU and 7:4 at 43.7AU. These objects are protected from any further disruption because their orbits ensure