Wednesday, July 23, 2025

This Trans-Neptunian Object Moves in Sync With Neptune. Was it Captured by Neptune?

This image shows the orbits of all of the objects discovered in the Outer Solar System Origins Survey. The orbit of 2020 VN40 is highlighted, and is tilted up and to the left of most of the other objects. The white circles are the orbits of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. 2020 VN40 is in a 10:1 orbital resonance with Neptune, but it won't always be. Image Credit: Rosemary Pike, CfA

Astronomers have detected a Trans-Neptunian Object (TNO) that's moving in rhythm with Neptune. It's called 2020 VN40 and is the first confirmed object that orbits the Sun once for every ten Neptune orbits. It could be an example of an object caught by Neptune's gravity.



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