NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has made a groundbreaking discovery in the distant Kuiper Belt, a region of icy bodies beyond Neptune. The telescope has found evidence of three gravitationally bound space rocks, known as the “3-body problem,” which challenges our understanding of how these objects form and move through space.
The system, designated 148780 Altjira, is the second example of multiple asteroids in the Kuiper Belt that are gravitationally bound together. The discovery was made after 17 years of data analysis from Hubble and the Keck Observatory in Hawaii. Researchers believe this finding supports a theory of KBO creation that involves the direct gravitational collapse of matter in the disk surrounding the infant sun around 4.5 billion years ago.
The study’s findings also shed light on the formation process of stars, which share similarities with the direct collapse pathway. In contrast, an alternative theory suggesting collisions between larger bodies would not produce a three-body arrangement like Altjira.
Further observations by the James Webb Space Telescope are expected to provide more insights into this phenomenon. The telescope will observe the system during its next “eclipsing season,” which will last for 10 years, allowing scientists to gather valuable data about the triplets.
The discovery of multiple asteroids in the Kuiper Belt highlights the complex nature of these celestial bodies and underscores the importance of continued exploration and research into our solar system’s outer reaches.
Source: https://www.space.com/space-exploration/hubble-space-telescope/hubble-telescope-discovers-a-new-3-body-problem-puzzle-among-kuiper-belt-asteroids-video