A new study posits that the large, approximately 5-kilometer-long mounds that dominate the appearance of the larger lobe of the pristine Kuiper Belt object Arrokoth are similar enough to suggest a common origin. The study suggests that these “building blocks” could guide further work on planetesimal formational models.
A new study led by Southwest Research Institute Planetary Scientist and Associate Vice President Dr. Alan Stern posits that the large, approximately 5-kilometer-long mounds that dominate the appearance of the larger lobe of the pristine Kuiper Belt object Arrokoth are similar enough to suggest a common origin. The SwRI study suggests that these"building blocks" could guide further work on planetesimal formational models.
"Similarities including in sizes and other properties of Arrokoth's mound structures suggest new insights into its formation," Stern, the Principal Investigator of the New Horizons mission, said."If the mounds are indeed representative of the building blocks of ancient planetesimals like Arrokoth, then planetesimal formation models will need to explain the preferred size for these building blocks.
The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in Laurel, Maryland, designed, built and operates the New Horizons spacecraft, and manages the mission for NASA's Science Mission Directorate. Southwest Research Institute, based in San Antonio, directs the mission via Principal Investigator Stern, who leads the science team, payload operations and encounter science planning.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Study suggests large mound structures on Kuiper belt object Arrokoth may have common originA new study led by Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) Planetary Scientist and Associate Vice President Dr. Alan Stern posits that the large, approximately 5-kilometer-long mounds that dominate the appearance of the larger lobe of the pristine Kuiper Belt object Arrokoth are similar enough to suggest a common origin.
Read more »
Astrophysicists predict a hidden planet in the Kuiper BeltA new study suggests there may be a planet hidden in the Kuiper Belt that's affecting orbits of space objects around it.
Read more »
It’s Musk vs. Bezos as Amazon’s Kuiper, a Starlink Rival, Goes to Space SoonThe retailer's Project Kuiper, which is meant to provide space-based internet service, is scheduled to launch its first satellites into orbit on Friday.
Read more »
New Horizons is Funded Through the Decade. Enough to Explore Another Kuiper Belt ObjectNASA finally decided to let New Horizons complete its exploration of the Kuiper Belt after waiting all summer to let the team know.
Read more »
NASA's New Horizons granted extended outer solar system missionThe decision to expand New Horizons' mission to explore a potential object in the Kuiper Belt, and not just the Sun, comes as a great relief to scientists.
Read more »
Of course Brandon Belt homered as SF Giants honored Brandon CrawfordBrandon Belt made sure he celebrated the day honoring his longtime teammate, even from...
Read more »