Classical Kuiper Belt Object

A classical Kuiper belt object, also called a cubewano ( /ˌkjuːbiːˈwʌnoʊ/ "QB1-o") is a low-eccentricity Kuiper belt object (KBO) that orbits beyond Neptune and is not controlled by an orbital resonance with Neptune. Cubewanos have orbits with semi-major axes in the 40–50 AU range and, unlike Pluto, do not cross Neptune’s orbit. That is, they have low-eccentricity and sometimes low-inclination orbits like the classical planets.

The name "cubewano" derives from the first trans-Neptunian object (TNO) found after Pluto and Charon, (15760) 1992 QB1. Similar objects found later were often called "QB1-o's", or "cubewanos", after this object, though the term "classical" is much more frequently used in the scientific literature.

Objects identified as cubewanos include:

  • (15760) 1992 QB1
  • Makemake, the largest known cubewano and a dwarf planet
  • (50000) Quaoar and (20000) Varuna, each considered the largest TNO at the time of discovery
  • 19521 Chaos, 58534 Logos, 53311 Deucalion, 66652 Borasisi, 88611 Teharonhiawako
  • (33001) 1997 CU29, (55636) 2002 TX300, (55565) 2002 AW197, (55637) 2002 UX25

Haumea (2003 EL61) was provisionally listed as a cubewano by the Minor Planet Center in 2006, but turned out to be resonant.

Read more about Classical Kuiper Belt Object:  Orbits: 'hot' and 'cold' Populations, Cold and Hot Populations: Physical Characteristics, Toward A Formal Definition, Families

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