14 Big Space Rocks Discovered Beyond Neptune

News
By published
14 Big Space Rocks Discovered Beyond Neptune
An artist's concept of a craggy piece of Solar System debris that belongs to a class of bodies called trans-Neptunian objects. Astronomers culling the data archives of NASA's Hubble Space Telescope have added 14 new TNOs to the catalog. (Image credit: NASA, ESA, and G. Bacon (STScI))

Astronomers have discovered a cache of 14 large space rocksbeyond the orbit of Neptune while sifting through archival observations fromthe Hubble Space Telescope.

Icy rocks like the newfound objects are known as trans-Neptunianobjects because they typically reside outside Neptune's orbit. These objects include the former planet Pluto, now classified as a dwarf planet, as well as comets like thefamed Halley's comet.

"Trans-Neptunian objectsinterest us because they are building blocks left over from the formationof the solar system," said study leader CesarFuentes of Northern Arizona University.

By measuring the trans-Neptunianobjects' motion across the sky, the astronomers were able to calculate eachobject's orbit and distance from the sun. The researchers were able to estimatethe size of each object by combining observations on their distance, brightnessand reflectivity,

"We have proven our ability to detect and characterize TNOseven with data intended for completely different purposes," Fuentes said.

Space.com Staff
Space.com Staff
News and editorial team

Space.com is the premier source of space exploration, innovation and astronomy news, chronicling (and celebrating) humanity's ongoing expansion across the final frontier. Originally founded in 1999, Space.com is, and always has been, the passion of writers and editors who are space fans and also trained journalists. Our current news team consists of Editor-in-Chief Tariq Malik; Editor Hanneke Weitering, Senior Space Writer Mike Wall; Senior Writer Meghan Bartels; Senior Writer Chelsea Gohd, Senior Writer Tereza Pultarova and Staff Writer Alexander Cox, focusing on e-commerce. Senior Producer Steve Spaleta oversees our space videos, with Diana Whitcroft as our Social Media Editor.