Neptune's Eccentricity and the Nature of the Kuiper Belt

The small eccentricity of Neptune may be a direct consequence of apsidal wave interaction with the trans-Neptune population of debris called the Kuiper belt. The Kuiper belt is subject to resonant perturbations from Neptune, so that the transport of angular momentum by density waves can result in or...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) 1998-06, Vol.280 (5372), p.2104-2106
Main Authors: Ward, William R., Hahn, Joseph M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Asteroids (minor planets)
Astronomical objects
Astronomy
Astrophysics
Atmosphere
Average linear density
Density
Earth, ocean, space
Exact sciences and technology
Kuiper belt
Motion
Neptune
Neptune (Planet)
Numerical eccentricity
Outer planets
Planetary atmospheres
Planetary orbits
Planets
Planets, their satellites and rings. Asteroids
Precession
Scientific Concepts
Solar system
Solar systems
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Summary:The small eccentricity of Neptune may be a direct consequence of apsidal wave interaction with the trans-Neptune population of debris called the Kuiper belt. The Kuiper belt is subject to resonant perturbations from Neptune, so that the transport of angular momentum by density waves can result in orbital evolution of Neptune as well as changes in the structure of the Kuiper belt. In particular, for a belt eroded out to the vicinity of Neptune's 2:1 resonance at about 48 astronomical units, Neptune's eccentricity can damp to its current value over the age of the solar system if the belt contains slightly more than an earth mass of material out to about 75 astronomical units.
ISSN:0036-8075
1095-9203
DOI:10.1126/science.280.5372.2104