Tiny Space Rock With Atmosphere Stuns Scientists
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Astronomers have made a surprising discovery in the Kuiper Belt, a frigid region of space beyond Neptune. A small icy rock named 2002 XV93 has been found to have its own atmosphere. This is unexpected because the object is only about 310 miles (500 km) wide. That is about seven times smaller than our Moon. Usually, an object that small does not have enough gravity to hold onto gases. They simply drift away into space.
The study was led by Ko Arimatsu from the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan. His team used a technique called stellar occultation, which involves watching the object pass in front of a distant star. Instead of the star's light disappearing instantly, it faded out slowly. This can happen when an object is surrounded by gas. The gas bends and scatters the light as it passes through. This suggests that 2002 XV93 likely has an atmosphere. Before this, only larger bodies like Pluto were known to have atmospheres in this region.
"This discovery suggests that the traditional idea that global dense atmospheres form only around larger planets must be revised," said Arimatsu's team.
The source of the atmosphere remains a mystery. Some scientists suggest 2002 XV93 may have ice volcanoes that release gas into space. Others believe the object was struck by another space rock in the recent past, which could have freed trapped gases. If that is the case, the atmosphere may be temporary and could dissipate within about a thousand years. Researchers are also unsure what the atmosphere is made of. It could include methane or nitrogen. The study was published in Nature Astronomy on May 6, 2026.
Resources: NPR.org, Earthsky.org, Space.com
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51 Comments
ilovehenrydsaf25 daysFascinating! I really love astronomy :3
iloveaxolotls27 daysSome planet's atmospheres are not oxygen. They are actually different gases.- iloveaxolotls27 daysThat is like super cool. I would love to go to space and see it. Astronauts are so lucky.
- fasaluju-17629650649528 daysyour so lucky
pherathecat328 daysI love NASA because I love space and NASA always goes to space. IT'S SO COOL!!!
bianca9828 daysOne reason I want to go to the NASA is because I want to learn more about it. And 1 reason I don't want to go is could get stuck. and never com back until somebody knows.
cabazosygugo28 daysI have always thought that space was really cool. When I was younger I wanted to be an astronaut but then I heard that you have to be good at science and stuff like that and then I was like "Ya know what, NEVERMIND!"
luffy1927 daysYeah same here. I was always thinking "wow being an astronaut would be soooooooo cool" but and then when I heard all of the sofisticated things you have to do I was like "yup, definitely not going to have that as my job.
vezewibawapi20 dayssofisticated... NOPE! sophisticated... YEP!
randomoreolover22 daysSadly, I have to say the same thing because it's too complicated to even go to space in the first place :((
sesimysudige28 daysI really want to go to NASA...- luffy1928 daysI've also always wanted to go because I am a nerd and love NASA. But not the weird nerd.
- iloveaxolotls27 daysNASA is like amazing.
marzia28 dayslol NASA is cool definitely
bipymizinatu28 daysi went to nasa on monday as a field trip.. it was cool and fun. i got a nasa build-a-bear and a shirt that matched my build- a bear- (a bear with an astronaut suit) it was so cute.
inventor3141528 dayssame but it was a few years ago- luffy1928 daysI've always wanted to go to NASA because it seems cool and interesting
