Kuiper Belt

A computer model of the Kuiper Belt. Credit: NASA

What is the Kuiper Belt?

Kuiper Belt Object Arrokoth. Credit: ASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest Research Institute

New Horizons flyby reveals critical clues about planetary formation

Carey Lisse, an instrument scientist on the New Horizons science team reacts after the team received confirmation from the spacecraft that it has completed the flyby of Pluto, Tuesday, July 14, 2015 at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) in Laurel, Maryland. Photo Credit: (NASA/Joel Kowsky)

Interview New Horizons' Kuiper Belt encounter

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Missing link of planetary formation discovered

Ultima-Thule

What has New Horizons found at Ultima Thule?

Remote observations have suggested that Ultima Thule has a lumpy shape, or could even be two bodies in orbit around each other. Image Credits: NASA/JHUAPL/SwRI/Steve Gribben

Interview: Ramy El-Maarry, New Horizons scientist

An eye-shaped nebula, the remains of a star forming molecular cloud that is being torn apart by the supergiant at it's center. The glowing parts of the planet's atmosphere in the lower left are portions of atmosphere that were ionized either because of meteorite impacts or massive volcanic eruptions. This is a young planetary system, still in the heavy bombardment stage of its formation, so impacts are still very common. The ring of glowing debris around the planet are the remains of it's other moons, which were obliterated in a series of collisions.

How did the Solar System form?

An artist's impression of what a planetary body with the same mass of Mars might look like. One is thought to be orbiting the outer edges of the Solar System. Image Credit: Heather Roper/LPL

Mars-like object detected in outer Solar System

Observers Kai Getrost and Alex Parker waiting to collect 2014 MU69 occultation data in Argentina on 3 June 2017. Image Credit: Kai Getrost

New Horizons heads for Kuiper Belt object

An artist’s impression of a comet-like object falling towards a white dwarf Credit: NASA, ESA, and Z. Levy (STScI)

Halley-like comet destroyed by white dwarf

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New dwarf planet discovered in Kuiper Belt

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Cheltenham Science Festival: The Kuiper Belt