Kuiper belt

American  

[kahy-per belt] / ˈkaɪ pər ˌbɛlt /

noun

Astronomy.

1. a disk-shaped region on the edge of the solar system that contains masses of ice and icy rock, believed to be the source of comets with orbital periods of less than 200 years.

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Kuiper belt British  

/ ˈkaɪpə /

noun

1. a region of the solar system beyond the orbit of Neptune, some 30–1000 astronomical units from the sun, containing up to one thousand million icy planetesimals or comet nuclei See also Oort

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Kuiper belt Scientific  

/ kī′pər /

1. A disk-shaped region in the outer solar system lying beyond the orbit of Neptune and extending to a distance of about 50 astronomical units, containing thousands of small, icy celestial bodies. It is believed to be a reservoir for short-period comets (comets that make one complete orbit of the Sun in less than 200 years). The Kuiper belt is named after American astronomer Gerard Kuiper (1905–1973), who first predicted its existence.

2. ◆ The bodies populating this region are known as Kuiper belt objects, and unlike the bodies in the Oort cloud they are believed to have originated in situ. There are an estimated 70,000 such objects having diameters of more than 100 km (62 mi). The dwarf planet Pluto and its moons are also found in this region.

3. Compare Oort cloud

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Etymology

Origin of Kuiper belt

First recorded in 1985–90; named after G. P. Kuiper, who proposed its existence

Compare meaning

How does kuiper-belt compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• Oort cloud vs. Kuiper belt

Example Sentences

Around our sun, these include the inner planets -- Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars -- the asteroid belt and the Kuiper belt objects such as Pluto.

From Science Daily • Mar. 22, 2024

Around our Sun, these include the inner planets, the asteroid belt and the Kuiper belt.

From Science Daily • Mar. 4, 2024

Since 2021, astronomers have found hundreds of new objects in the Kuiper belt, a region beyond Neptune.

From Science Magazine • Oct. 3, 2023

After Mr. Rush learned of Mr. Stern’s background — jet pilot, polar exploration, leader of NASA’s New Horizon exploration of Pluto and the Kuiper belt — he offered a free ticket.

From New York Times • Jul. 2, 2023

Only a few astronomers, notably Gerard Kuiper, the Dutch-born astronomer for whom the Kuiper belt of comets is named, took any interest in the solar system at all.

From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson