2007-08-08 23:41:50 · 4 answers · asked by champscience 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
The Kuiper belt (pronounce, to rhyme with "viper"), sometimes called the Edgeworth-Kuiper belt, is a region of the Solar System beyond the planets extending from the orbit of Neptune (at 30 AU) to approximately 55 AU from the Sun. It is similar to the asteroid belt, although it is far larger; 20 times as wide and 20–200 times as massive. Like the asteroid belt, it consists mainly of small bodies (remnants from the Solar System's formation) and at least one dwarf planet – Pluto. But while the asteroid belt is composed primarily of rock and metal, the Kuiper belt is composed largely of ices, such as methane, ammonia, and water.
2007-08-08 23:54:21 · answer #1 · answered by ericbryce2 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Check out Dave Jewitt's Kuiper Belt pages. Nothing like hearing it from the horse's mouth (so to speak.)
2007-08-09 07:06:53 · answer #2 · answered by Peter T 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a second asteroid belt out past Neptune. Pluto is really a Kuiper belt object and not a planet.
2007-08-09 09:25:55 · answer #3 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Search me.
2007-08-12 22:30:20 · answer #4 · answered by johnandeileen2000 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋