JOURNAL ARTICLE

Who First Described the Comet Belt Just Beyond Neptune?

  • Published In: Sky & Telescope, 2024, v. 148, n. 3. P. 20 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Croswell, Ken 3 of 3

Abstract

This article provides a historical overview of the trans-Neptunian belt, also known as the Kuiper Belt. It mentions the predictions made by Irish scientist Kenneth Edgeworth in the 1940s about the existence of small objects in this region of the solar system. The article also highlights the discovery of Albion, a world beyond Neptune, in 1992. It explains that the Kuiper Belt is the source of most short-period comets, while comets with longer orbital periods come from the Oort Cloud. The article concludes by suggesting that the region beyond Neptune's orbit should be named the Edgeworth-Kuiper Belt to recognize the contributions of both Edgeworth and Gerard Kuiper. [Extracted from the article]

Additional Information

  • Source:Sky & Telescope. 2024/09, Vol. 148, Issue 3, p20
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Astronomy and Astrophysics
  • Publication Date:2024
  • ISSN:0037-6604
  • Accession Number:177786656
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