A team of astronomers has discovered a rare object far beyond Neptune, from a class known as trans-Neptunian objects, that is moving in rhythm with the giant planet.
This image shows the orbits of all of the objects discovered in the Outer Solar System Origins Survey.
The orbit of 2020 VN40 is the thickest one, tilted up and to the left from the orbits of most of the objects.
Astronomers have discovered a mysterious object far beyond Neptune that orbits the Sun once for every ten Neptune orbits—an arrangement never seen before.
Known as 2020 VN40, the object’s orbit is dramatically tilted, and yet it remains locked in gravitational resonance with Neptune in a surprising, rhythmic pattern.
Unlike other known trans-Neptunian objects, VN40’s closest approach to the Sun aligns visually with Neptune’s, though the two are not physically close.
This odd configuration opens new questions about how the outer solar system formed and what other orbital surprises may be hiding in the distant dark.
A Rare Discovery in Neptune’s Shadow
Astronomers have identified a rare object located far beyond Neptune, belonging to a group known as trans-Neptunian objects.
Named 2020 VN40, it is the first confirmed case of an object that completes a single orbit around the Sun for every ten orbits made by Neptune, indicating a synchronized orbital pattern with the distant planet.
This unusual motion is helping researchers better understand the dynamics of the outer solar system and how objects in these distant regions might have arrived there.
The finding also adds support to the idea that Neptune’s gravitational pull can temporarily trap passing objects as they drift through space.
Evolution of the Solar System
“This is a big step in understanding the outer solar system.It shows that even very distant regions influenced by Neptune can contain objects, and it gives us new clues about how the solar system evolved.”
