Neptune's Eccentricity and the Nature of the Kuiper Belt

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 280; no. 5372; pp. 2104 - 2106
• Main Authors: Ward, William R., Hahn, Joseph M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Society for the Advancement of Science 26.06.1998; American Association for the Advancement of Science; The American Association for the Advancement of Science
• 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; Planetesimals; Angular momentum transfer; Eccentricity; Neptune planet; Asteroids; Kuiper belt; Density waves; Orbits; Resonance
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.280.5372.2104

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.