In a surprising new discovery, astronomers have identified a previously unknown set of rings around the dwarf planet Quaoar.
Astronomers have discovered another unexpected set of rings around the trans-Neptunian object Quaoar, a potential dwarf planet, revealing the complexity of this distant celestial body and providing insights into the formation of the Solar System.
Quaoar: A Solar System Fossil
Trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs), like Quaoar, are largely preserved remnants from the formation of the Solar System. By cataloging its physical characteristics, researchers can better understand how our Solar System formed and evolved.
Another Unexpected Set of Rings Around Quaoar
Just two months after the same team of astronomers revealed Quaoar’s first ring, they have now discovered a second, more internal ring. The findings, published in Astronomy & Astrophysics Letters, indicate that Quaoar’s system is more complex than previously believed.
Stellar Occultation: A Window into the Unknown
Both rings were identified using the stellar occultation technique, which observes when an object in the Solar System passes in front of a star and momentarily blocks its light.
Beyond the Roche Limit: A Puzzling Observation
Unlike rings found around other celestial bodies, the celestial body’s rings exist beyond its Roche limit, the region where tidal forces balance the mutual attraction of ring particles. Objects within the Roche limit are expected to disintegrate and form a ring, while those beyond the limit should aggregate into satellites.
Probing Quaoar’s Enigmatic Rings
The researchers detected the second ring (Q2R) while analyzing data from the first ring (Q1R). Although Q2R is closer to Quaoar, it still orbits beyond the Roche limit. To further investigate Quaoar and its unusual rings, the team organized an observing campaign involving both amateur and professional telescopes, such as Gemini North and the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope (CFHT).
Meta description: Astronomers have discovered a second ring around the trans-Neptunian object Quaoar, providing insights into the Solar System’s formation and challenging our understanding of the Roche limit.
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