Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Trans-Neptunian Object

Encyclopedia of Astrobiology

  • 201 Accesses

Synonyms

Kuiper belt object; TNO

Definition

The name “trans-Neptunian object” (TNO) has been given to the small solar-system bodies that constitute the Kuiper belt, beyond the orbit of Neptune. The existence of this population was first proposed by Kenneth Edgeworth and Gerard Kuiper on the basis of dynamical considerations. Over 1,300 trans-Neptunian objects are presently known. The first discovery of a TNO was made in 1992 by David Jewitt and Jane Luu. Trans-Neptunian objects are classified in different categories: the “classical” objects, at 42–47 AU from the Sun, have a low inclination and a low eccentricity; the “plutinos” are in resonance with Pluto and have the same semimajor axis as Pluto; and the “scattered” objects are more distant and have larger eccentricities.

See Also

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution

Institutional subscriptions

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Observatoire de Paris – Section de Meudon, LESIA – Bâtiment ISO (no 17), 5, Place Jules Janssen, 92195, Meudon, France

    Therese Encrenaz

Authors
  1. Therese Encrenaz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Therese Encrenaz .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Centro de Biología Molecular, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain

    Ricardo Amils

  2. Labo. d'Astrophysique de Bordeaux (LAB), Observatoire Aquitain des Sciences de l'Univers (OASU), Floirac CX, France

    Muriel Gargaud

  3. Centro de Astrobiología (CAB), Inst. Nacional de Técnica Aeroespacial, Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain

    José Cernicharo Quintanilla

  4. Geophysical Lab., Carnegie Institution of Washington, Washington, District of Columbia, USA

    Henderson James Cleaves

  5. Astronomy Department, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA

    William M. Irvine

  6. Dépt. Sc. de la Terre et de l’Atmosphère, Université du Québec, Montréal, Montreal, Québec, Canada

    Daniele Pinti

  7. Centre National d'Etudes Spatiale (CNES) DPI/E2U, Paris CX, France

    Michel Viso

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this entry

Cite this entry

Encrenaz, T. (2014). Trans-Neptunian Object. In: Amils, R., et al. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1608-2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1608-2

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-27833-4

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Physics and AstronomyReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Chemistry, Materials and Physics

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Chapter history

  1. Latest

    Trans-Neptunian Object
    Published:
    06 December 2022

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1608-3

  2. Original

    Trans-Neptunian Object
    Published:
    21 April 2015

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-27833-4_1608-2

Search

Navigation