A recent study reveals that a small, icy world beyond Pluto, known as (612533) 2002 XV93, may have a thin atmosphere, possibly formed by volcanic activity or a comet impact. This object, located in the Kuiper Belt, is the smallest known to have a global atmosphere held by gravity. Researchers in Japan observed it in 2024 as it passed in front of a star, causing a brief dimming of light. The atmosphere is believed to be composed of methane, nitrogen, or carbon monoxide and is significantly thinner than Earth’s. This discovery challenges the belief that only larger celestial bodies can have atmospheres. Future observations, particularly by NASA’s Webb Space Telescope, could confirm the atmosphere’s composition and origin. This finding enhances our understanding of distant solar system objects and their characteristics.
QUESTION: How might discovering atmospheres on smaller celestial bodies change our understanding of the solar system and its formation?
Astronomers believe they’ve detected an atmosphere around a tiny, icy world beyond Pluto
