Publication Date:
2015-12-25
Description:
Current theories cannot explain how trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) either formed in situ or how ultrawide trans-Neptunian binaries (TNBs) exist if they were formed closer to the Sun and were later dispersed during Neptune's migration. Furthermore, no theory can adequately explain the documented clustering of near 0° for TNOs with a 〉 150 au. Here, we show that not only is clustered for the nine long-period TNOs (LPTNOs) with a 〉 200 au, but is also grouped almost as closely. Neither of these orbital elements is randomly distributed for any collection of TNOs investigated, including those that are not in resonance with Neptune, those with q 〉 30 au, q 〉 44 au, and LPTNOs. Every frequency distribution of and indicates that many TNOs were recently affected by Neptune. Based on this study, we propose that TNOs were inside Neptune's orbit in the last few Myr. The TNOs then migrated outwards in a relatively short time period. Ultrawide TNBs never came close to Neptune during this migration, allowing these fragile pairs to remain intact. However, many other TNOs were perturbed as they passed Neptune, resulting in the distribution of orbital elements we see today for all TNOs, including those in the Kuiper belt and the LPTNOs.
Print ISSN:
0035-8711
Electronic ISSN:
1365-2966
Topics:
Physics
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