Kuiper Belt

JavaScript — Kuiper Belt

const G = 6.674e-11;
const M_SUN = 1.989e30;

// Orbital periods
function periodFromAU(a_AU) {
  return Math.pow(a_AU, 1.5);
}

// Classical Kuiper Belt
console.log(`42 AU: ${periodFromAU(42).toFixed(1)} years`);
console.log(`48 AU: ${periodFromAU(48).toFixed(1)} years`);

// Pluto orbit (39.5 AU)
console.log(`Pluto: ${periodFromAU(39.5).toFixed(1)} years (3:2 resonance with Neptune)`);

// Solar flux at Kuiper Belt
console.log(`Flux at 30 AU: ${(1361 / 30 / 30).toFixed(3)} W/m²`);
console.log(`Flux at 50 AU: ${(1361 / 50 / 50).toFixed(3)} W/m²`);

// Major KBOs
const kbos = {
  'Pluto': { a: 39.5, diameter_km: 2376 },
  'Eris': { a: 67.7, diameter_km: 2326 },
  'Haumea': { a: 43.1, diameter_km: 1632 },
  'Makemake': { a: 45.8, diameter_km: 1430 },
  'Sedna': { a: 506, diameter_km: 1000 },
  'Quaoar': { a: 43.7, diameter_km: 1110 }
};

for (const [name, props] of Object.entries(kbos)) {
  console.log(`${name}: ${props.a} AU, ${props.diameter_km} km, ${periodFromAU(props.a).toFixed(0)} year orbit`);
}

Why Kuiper Belt matters

• Solar system origin. Primitive material from outer protoplanetary disk.
• Comet source. Short-period comets originate here.
• Dynamics. Resonances with Neptune; scattering events.
• Composition. Information about volatile chemistry of early solar system.
• Pluto and dwarf planets. Defines class of object.
• New Horizons science. Detailed Pluto + Arrokoth study.
• Planet Nine. Gravitational anomalies in outer orbits.

Common misconceptions

• Kuiper Belt is at edge of solar system. Oort Cloud (~50,000 AU) is much farther.
• KB is dense. Like main belt; objects far apart on average.
• All KBOs are similar. Wide range — different compositions, dynamic histories.
• Pluto is unique in KB. Many similar dwarf planets; Pluto just first discovered there.
• KB is fixed. Objects scatter, migrate; comets escape inward continuously.
• KB has been thoroughly explored. New Horizons visited 2 objects; thousands more uncharacterized.