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Unusual Eccentricity and Inclination Distributions of Trans-Neptunian Objects and Trans-Neptunian Binaries

Received: 23 January 2018     Accepted: 3 February 2018     Published: 26 February 2018
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Abstract

The eccentricity and inclination of trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) decrease significantly as radius of perihelion increases. Also, the percentage of TNOs in almost circular orbits with low inclinations increases dramatically with perihelion distance. These unusual distributions presented here cannot be explained by observational bias or the poorly determined orbits in the Kuiper belt. Instead, they may provide evidence about the origin of TNOs. Most theories are also unable to explain these strange orbital distributions. However, if TNOs passed close to Neptune because they migrated relatively quickly away from the Sun, their eccentricities and inclinations should both be inversely related to perihelion distance as shown. This TNO-migration theory can also help explain the origin of trans-Neptunian binaries (TNBs), and it accurately predicts the relationships between TNBs’ separation distances and their heliocentric perihelia, eccentricities, and inclinations.

Published in International Journal of Astrophysics and Space Science (Volume 6, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijass.20180601.13
Page(s) 28-37
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2018. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Trans-Neptunian Objects, Trans-Neptunian Binaries, Kuiper Belt

References
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[13] J. M. Hahn and R. Malhotra, “Neptune’s migration into a stirred-up Kuiper belt: A detailed comparison of simulations to observations,” AJ, Vol. 130, No. 5, p. 2392 (2005).
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Robert B. Brown. (2018). Unusual Eccentricity and Inclination Distributions of Trans-Neptunian Objects and Trans-Neptunian Binaries. International Journal of Astrophysics and Space Science, 6(1), 28-37. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijass.20180601.13

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    ACS Style

    Robert B. Brown. Unusual Eccentricity and Inclination Distributions of Trans-Neptunian Objects and Trans-Neptunian Binaries. Int. J. Astrophys. Space Sci. 2018, 6(1), 28-37. doi: 10.11648/j.ijass.20180601.13

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    AMA Style

    Robert B. Brown. Unusual Eccentricity and Inclination Distributions of Trans-Neptunian Objects and Trans-Neptunian Binaries. Int J Astrophys Space Sci. 2018;6(1):28-37. doi: 10.11648/j.ijass.20180601.13

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ijass.20180601.13,
      author = {Robert B. Brown},
      title = {Unusual Eccentricity and Inclination Distributions of Trans-Neptunian Objects and Trans-Neptunian Binaries},
      journal = {International Journal of Astrophysics and Space Science},
      volume = {6},
      number = {1},
      pages = {28-37},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijass.20180601.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijass.20180601.13},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijass.20180601.13},
      abstract = {The eccentricity and inclination of trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) decrease significantly as radius of perihelion increases. Also, the percentage of TNOs in almost circular orbits with low inclinations increases dramatically with perihelion distance. These unusual distributions presented here cannot be explained by observational bias or the poorly determined orbits in the Kuiper belt. Instead, they may provide evidence about the origin of TNOs. Most theories are also unable to explain these strange orbital distributions. However, if TNOs passed close to Neptune because they migrated relatively quickly away from the Sun, their eccentricities and inclinations should both be inversely related to perihelion distance as shown. This TNO-migration theory can also help explain the origin of trans-Neptunian binaries (TNBs), and it accurately predicts the relationships between TNBs’ separation distances and their heliocentric perihelia, eccentricities, and inclinations.},
     year = {2018}
    }
    

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    T2  - International Journal of Astrophysics and Space Science
    JF  - International Journal of Astrophysics and Space Science
    JO  - International Journal of Astrophysics and Space Science
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    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijass.20180601.13
    AB  - The eccentricity and inclination of trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) decrease significantly as radius of perihelion increases. Also, the percentage of TNOs in almost circular orbits with low inclinations increases dramatically with perihelion distance. These unusual distributions presented here cannot be explained by observational bias or the poorly determined orbits in the Kuiper belt. Instead, they may provide evidence about the origin of TNOs. Most theories are also unable to explain these strange orbital distributions. However, if TNOs passed close to Neptune because they migrated relatively quickly away from the Sun, their eccentricities and inclinations should both be inversely related to perihelion distance as shown. This TNO-migration theory can also help explain the origin of trans-Neptunian binaries (TNBs), and it accurately predicts the relationships between TNBs’ separation distances and their heliocentric perihelia, eccentricities, and inclinations.
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Author Information
  • Department of Astronautics, United States Air Force Academy, Colorado, USA

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